Revised Amaila hydro project to generate over 165MW of power

Oct 29, 2025 News

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(Kaieteur News) – The Government of Guyana (GoG) last weekend issued a revised Request For Proposals (RFP) which could finally bring the Amaila falls hydro project to life.

The Office of the Prime Minister in the advertisement published on Sunday hinted that the project will produce over 165 megawatts (MW) of electricity. It said, “The size of the hydro may be reengineered to take account of changes in turbine technology thus allowing more than 165MW to be generated and transmitted.”

The scope of work for the project, according to the RFP includes a 165MW installed hydro dam, plant and a substation at the Amaila site, along with other related works and construction of a 23 square kilometer (KM) storage reservoir, consistent with environmental reports, studies and permits.

Government also said the project, to be built under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model will be executed via a new “Special Purpose Company (SPC)” and will be issued with all previous permits, licences and permissions that previously existed in April 2015; however, the developer will be responsible for any updates required by law.

GoG also indicated that the transmission network will be built separately.

Under the BOOT arrangement, the Government of Guyana (GoG) will purchase the electricity from the private developer. As such, the RFP explained that government will select a suitable partner based on (i) lowest Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) price, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) price, operating cost and capital amortization; (ii) timeframes to complete and (iii) ability to finance the project on a PPA basis.

Additionally interested firms and consortiums should note that they will only be considered if they have completed at least three hydro projects, generating at least 100MW each within the last 15 years.

As such, responses to the RFP should include a detailed track record of similar projects completed under (a) EPC (b) Operations and evidence of financial ability, including last three years of audited Financial Statements.

Also required in the RFP are details of proposed local content goals, including sub-contractors, percentage of project costs that will be locally sourced, and supporting details of same; detailed project schedule showing time for design/engineering, time for construction both in sufficient detail; EPC price breakdown; description of key contractors and sub-contractors manpower (local and foreign) during construction, and details of local content; outline of all provided agreements that will make up the project structure, including EPC contract, PPA, and Government Agreement as well as a draft Terms of Reference for appointment of independent supervision.

During the construction phase government plans to engage an independent consultant for the supervision of the design and ultimate construction.

The deadline for submissions of prequalification is on February 17, 2025.

Government had shelved the Amaila Falls project to focus on the development of the Wales Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project which is likely to be completed in 2026. That project will add 300 MW of electricity in its first phase.

The feasibility of the Amaila project has long been questioned by the political opposition who worry about the steady supply of water from the falls, among other issues.

In 2024, government engaged a Chinese contractor, China Railway Group Limited but later disclosed that talks fell through.

The Amaila Falls Hydro project was first introduced by the PPP/C Administration in 2011, but since then, it has never materialized, facing setbacks on many occasions.

The project faced obstacles in its realization when the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) Opposition parties, stopped the project back in 2014.  In its 2020 election manifesto, the PPP-administration noted that the project will be revived.

In 2021, negotiations hit a stalemate after Cabinet granted a no-objection for the Prime Minister’s Office to engage the China Railway Group Limited for construction. Discussions faltered as the company reportedly sought to alter the project’s model due to financing challenges for the BOOT model, requesting a shift to an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model. The government was reluctant to switch to the EPC option, resulting in the talks with the Chinese contractor coming to an end.

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• Amaila, Amaila hydro project, Hydropower, revised, RFP

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