The government’s commitment to the Amaila Falls Hydropower project remains steadfast, with Vice President of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, disclosing that a request for proposals will be issued in two weeks.
He said that multiple investors have shown interest in the project, including a Brazilian company, a company from Austria, and several from Korea, highlighting the widespread appeal of the project.
“We were hoping within maybe a maximum of two weeks to go out for the request for proposals. Up to last week, we had another interest from a Brazilian company. We’ve had a company from Austria. We had several from Korea. I think there are a large number of people approaching us, and the best way to do this is through a public process,” he explained.
Dr. Jagdeo further noted that instructions have already been conveyed to the technical staff to prepare for the new Request for Proposal (RFP). This includes updating the data from the previous RFP to reflect new developments, particularly the change in electricity demand.
“But we had most of the documents from the past already, so we just need to update them to see that they are more up-to-date,” Jagdeo noted.
The PPP/C government has been working to fulfill its manifesto promise of reviving the project, aligning it with the revamped Low Carbon Development Strategy. This initiative aims to lower the cost of electricity and support Guyana’s economic diversification efforts. Given the challenges faced by Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the project is increasingly crucial, working in conjunction with the upcoming Gas-to-Energy project to deliver reliable, stable, and cost-effective electricity to the citizens.
During the PPP/C administration’s previous tenure pre-2015, extensive assessments, including environmental and social impact assessments, were conducted to advance the project. However, it faced setbacks due to various challenges such opposition in parliament and complications with the project’s contractual arrangements. The opposition parties at the time, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC), expressed concerns and voted down key legislation related to the project.
In addition, the project failed to proceed despite having a developer, United States- based, Sithe Global, backed by investment major The Blackstone Inc. In August 2013, Sithe Global withdrew from the project, citing the lack of national consensus and challenges in Parliament.
When it got into office in 2015, the APNU/AFC Coalition Administration shelved the project once again.
Nevertheless the revival of the 165-megawatt hydropower project was a promise made by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in its 2020 Manifesto. Construction of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project was initially scheduled to commence last year, with an expected completion date in 2027.
