Government is committed to completing the Amila Hydro project – Luncheon
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 22:26
- Written by Alethea Grant Charles.
Government is ardently pursuing the potential that renewable energy has to offer and has cited that it is in keeping with its thrust of building a green economy. Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon said despite the current challenges facing the completion of the access road to the Amila Falls Hydro project will be a reality.
The Cabinet Secretary downplayed misconstrued information that is being filtered to the public by some sections of the media. Dr Luncheon said Government is committed to seeing the completion of the project since moving towards a green economy is first and foremost a priority of the government.
“The commitment of financial closure remains strong advanced this on the most recent engagements with the CEO of Sithe Global and the President and there continues to be a need for us the Government and Cabinet to publicly and for the obvious benefits of the project on all aspects of our economy and particularly national life” Luncheon said.
He explained that the government, Sithe Global and China Development Bank will have to raise some US $800M which will be deposited into an exchequer account in keeping with contractual agreements.
This will see the competition of the hydropower project become a reality and according to Dr Luncheon contracts for the manufacturing, transmission and distribution mains have already been tendered.
With regards to oil exploration the Cabinet Secretary said government will continue to play a major role in making the necessary resources available not wanting to fall into the traps oil producing nations find themselves in, of having to import foreign assistance.
“Our intention is to get if I may say a piece of that cake trying having our jobs or output for training programs to be raised and addressed this niche would be created so when we speak about professionals we speak about academic persons in drilling”
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sithe Global, Bruce Wrobel, Senior Vice-Presidents, James McGowan and Brian Kubeck yesterday met with President Donald Ramotar to discuss the way forward with regards to the Amaila falls hydro project.
Wrobel, in a brief comment, said that the Guyanese Head of State showed very strong support for the project, and that his company is very encouraged by the steps that are being taken to see the completion of the access road so that construction of the hydro project can commence in a few months.
The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, the brainchild of the former President Bharrat Jagdeo, will catalyze a seismic shift in the energy infrastructure of Guyana, in the environment for doing business and in the quality of life in Guyana.
