Amaila Falls Hydropower Project to be completed
− other potential hydropower projects being explored
– Prime Minister Phillips
Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips says the government intends to take steps to ensure the completion of the US$840 million Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, as this is in keeping with its plan to provide a cheaper and more reliable power supply to the nation.
Speaking during the debate on Budget 2020, yesterday the Prime Minister said the government plans to augment power supply over the next five years to meet the growing demand.
The PM said his office would oversee several projects in the area of power generation. Including other potential hydropower projects currently being explored. Expressions of Interest have also been solicited to meet growing power demands.
PM Phillips said the Administration also intends to “tackle irregular power supply and frequent blackouts that we all have been experiencing.”
Added to this, the government will continue to pursue low carbon initiatives such as mini-hydropower systems to diversify energy supply. The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) will play an essential role in this endeavour. The Agency will install hydrological measurement equipment to assess the potential for mini and micro hydropower developments at various locations across the country.
“Data has already been collected at Paruima in Region Seven, and the hydropower engineers are currently preparing a pre-feasibility study for the site. Data is currently being collected at Waramadong in Region Seven. Hydrological logger will soon be installed at Monkey Mountain in Region Eight and Eclipse Falls in Region One to determine the hydropower potential of those sites,” PM Phillips said.
The GEA is supporting the Hinterland Electrification Company Incorporation by conducting an energy needs assessment for all 200-plus hinterland communities across the country. Assessments were completed at Sebai, Mainstay/Whyaka and Tapacuma, Moraikobai, Paruima, Waramadong, Kurukubaru, Annai, and Ituni.
The government envisions that it will be able to provide more than 400 megawatts of newly-installed capacity for residential and commercial industrial users over the period 2020 to 2025.