Feasibility study for Region Seven hydropower projects

─ in Phillipai and Pariuma, Upper Mazaruni

DPI, Guyana, Monday, August 13, 2018

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure will be conducting a feasibility study for the construction of hydropower projects at Phillipai and Pariuma in the Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven.

This was announced by Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford, who said that the region is anticipating the implementation of the project which will not only generate low-cost energy but will be a major economic boost to the two villages and surrounding areas.

In addition to providing hydroelectricity, Bradford said that the project will have additional spin-off benefits, one of which includes agro-processing.

“We are happy that the ministry has sought to do the feasibility study in the two areas, to harness rapids to produce cheap energy, green and clean energy…Our vision is to ensure food security and we want to encourage agro-processing, but in order to do this, we need cheap electricity.”

Bradford explained that Upper Mazaruni villages have swathes of fertile land, for instance, in Pariuma, citrus fruits, plantains and other produce are grown in abundance. However, every year, these areas experience major flooding. Bradford said that once the project is fully onstream, the regional administration will be assisting the villages to can the crops grown, thereby creating markets.

Additionally, a GYD$794.5Million (US$3.8 Million) 1.5-megawatt solar farm, with storage, is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for Bartica in Region Seven. The project will commence sometime this year and will last for 18 months.

Also, a one-megawatt hydro project will be constructed upstream Bartica at a cost of GYD$1.1Million (US$5.2 million). The funding is being sourced from the Guyana REDD Investment Fund and is expected to last for two and a half years. Currently, technical assessments and other studies are being conducted.

By: Synieka Thorne

Image: Keno George