The government of Guyana is taking significant steps towards the development of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, with plans to issue a request for proposals in the coming weeks.
This move comes as the country faces a series of blackouts due to limited generating capacity at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to meet the surging demand for power.
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, emphasized the importance of this project in diversifying the country’s energy sources beyond oil and gas.
Dr. Jagdeo underscored the urgency of the Amaila Falls project, especially given the escalating demand for power.
He suggested that if the previous administration had supported and invested in the project, the current energy supply challenges might not have occurred.
The General Secretary also revealed that the technical groundwork for the request for proposals is underway.
The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project has been under consideration for over 15 years and is anticipated to generate 165 megawatts of electricity upon completion.
In April 2022, negotiations between China Railway First Group and the Guyana government faced an impasse after the Chinese state-owned company indicated its inability to construct the $700 million hydroelectricity station under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) financing model.
Reporting by Josiah Williams