Omai to use HFO generators

Aug 31, 2026 News

…as Amaila Falls, GTE projects may miss timeline

(Kaieteur News) – Canada-based Omai Gold Mines will have to use heavy fuel oil (HFO) generators to power its gold mining operations in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), as the timelines for major government-led energy projects may not meet the company’s development schedule.

In its recently published Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), it was stated that the base case scenario assumes that all power for the project will be generated on-site using HFO generators. According to the report, a total of 60 megawatts (MW) of installed power capacity is planned for the initial phase of the project, with an additional 14MW required to support the underground mine and other associated systems.

Omai said alternative power supply options could be considered in the future, including power from government’s proposed 165MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project and the 300MW Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

It was further stated that a second phase of the development envisions a future compressed natural gas plant (CNG).

Omai stated that while the Government of Guyana has recently closed the tender process for the Amaila Falls project, development is still awaiting funding. As such the company cautioned that the timelines for these projects may not meet Omai’s own development timeline. “Timelines for these projects may not initially meet Omai’s timelines. Alternative power supply options will be monitored and considered in future studies,” it said.

Omai noted that the proposed hydropower project is located approximately 80 kilometres west of the Omai property, with the proposed transmission line expected to run within 20 kilometres of the mining site. The Amaila Falls Hydro project was introduced by a previous PPP/C Administration in 2011, but project faced obstacles in its realisation and was shelved on multiple occasions.

Moreover, the Wales GTE project includes the 300MW power plant and the LNG facility. The project has faced mounting criticisms over delays and escalating costs. The project is now expected to achieve first power by the end of 2026. The project’s initial deadline was December 2024. While the first power turbine is expected to come online by the end of 2026, the other gas turbines are expected to be fully commissioned by the first quarter of 2027 and the combined cycle operation to be completed by June 2027.

Notably, Omai is working towards a 2030 production target at its gold project which is projected to produce 6.3 million ounces of payable gold over an 18-year mine life, including peak annual production of 435,667 ounces. The Omai Gold Mine hosts the Wenot open pit deposit and the adjacent Gilt underground deposit. Omai, through its subsidiary Avalon Gold Exploration Inc., owns 100% interest in the mine, which produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold from 1993 to 2005.

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Gold Mining, gold operations, Heavy Fuel Oil, Omai Gold Mines

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