Govt. “close” to taking decision on Amaila’s hydro return – Ramotar

Aug 30, 2014 News 0

An artist’s impression of the Amaila Falls hydro-power facility.

The Administration yesterday insisted that it remains committed to the Amaila Falls project with a decision likely in the very near future.
Speaking during a press conference at his office yesterday, President Donald Ramotar, also said that Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has shown a willingness to plug part of the almost US$900M that it will cost to build the project into Region Eight.
“We are very close to taking a decision on what direction we should go to put back Amaila on stream, and so far, the IDB seems to be still onboard in working with us to get this project moving, so it is not dead,” the President is quoted in saying according to a Government statement yesterday.
He noted that all of Guyana knows that the lack of cheap energy is one of the major impediments to more rapid economic growth and development.
He pointed out, too, that even though the harnessing of hydropower is featured in the Opposition’s manifesto, they have repeatedly voted down the project in Parliament.
Government was forced to shelve the project, the country’s most expensive infrastructural one on the books, after a Parliamentary deadlock on key legislations. The legislations were key to financing by the IDB which was looking to plug up to US$175M into the project .
The Chinese are putting up around US$500M with Guyana another US$100M.
The developer, Sithe Global, pulled out after the Opposition voted against the legislations, placing the project in limbo.
Government has been meeting with the IDB and other stakeholders on the 165 megawatts project which it says will help solve Guyana’s dependency on fuel-based generators for power.
Yesterday, Ramotar said that the voting against the legislations is a clear example of how the Opposition stands with investments.
“This shows that they understand the importance, but their objective is to damage Guyana more than anything else.”
As part of its commitment to the project, Government is building access roads to the falls which is plagued with delays and problems and has gone past the US$30M mark.
Another hydro-power project, in the Mazaruni, Region Seven, was discussed this week
along with the paving of the Linden-Lethem Road during a follow-up meeting of the Guyana-Brazil Joint Commission.
President Ramotar, according to the statement, said that the projects that were discussed have the potential of transforming the country in a significant way.
He pointed out that the two sides are also examining the prospects of having more investments in the area of agriculture and food production, as well as the possibilities that exist for the improvement of air links.
“Most of these discussions are only at the preliminary stage to see if we can increase contact and cooperation in the economic sphere and accelerate integration… I have no doubt that the Brazilians are serious, judging from the people who have come here in this regard.”