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After years of delays… Govt. turns to Indian firms to revive Amaila Falls hydro project
(Kaieteur News) – The Government of Guyana is looking to attract Indian companies to bid for the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, which was first introduced back in 2011 and shelved on multiple occasions.
Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Dhanamkumar Seeraj, during an interview with an Indian media entity, ANI News outlined that Guyana currently has an expression of interest open for the project and encouraged Indian firms to participate.
“And we also, we have an expression of interest out for the development of a hydroelectric power station at a place called Amelia Falls. So, we expect Indian companies, and we trying to encourage Indian companies to also go there, express interest and to bid,” Seeraj said.
An artist’s impression of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.
He noted that the government is flexible on how the project can be structured, depending on proposals received. “You know, it can be done under different arrangement, under a power purchase agreement, under build own operate and transfer and so, depending on the particular project itself there are different models that the government is open to pursue with companies,” he added.
Despite the project’s history, the People’s Progressive Party administration has renewed its push for the project to reach realisation. The revised Request for Proposals (RFP) issued last year, states that the Amaila Falls project is expected to generate more than 165 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
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.
Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Dhanamkumar Seeraj.
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 amortisation; (ii) timeframes to complete and (iii) ability to finance the project on a PPA basis.
Notably, 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. The deadline for submissions of prequalification is on February 17, 2026.
This publication had highlighted that since assuming office in 2020 under the first Irfaan Ali-led PPP administration, government tendered twice for a contractor for the project but both were unsuccessful in materialising.
The Amaila Falls Hydro project was introduced by a previous PPP/C Administration in 2011. However, the project faced obstacles in its realisation 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. However, to date the PPP government was unable to do so before the end of the first term in office.
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 sought to alter the project’s model due to financing challenges for a BOOT model, requesting a shift to an EPC model. The government was reluctant to switch to the EPC option, resulting in the talks with the Chinese contractor coming to an end.
The government later issued a revised RFP under the BOOT model for the Amaila Falls project and four local and international firms submitted proposals for the Amaila Falls project that was scheduled to begin in 2027. However, this too was stalled.
Early in 2025, the government announced that it would once again go to tender for the project, and this led to the current RFP being issued.
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