Chinese company to build hydro dam in Guyana
Guyana
The Guyana government says the China Railway Group Limited, which was initially selected to construct the Amaila Falls hydropower project in 2012, has now been granted approval to construct the renewable energy project.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance said Cabinet granted its ‘no objection’ for the Office of the Prime Minister to engage the company.
It said that the project will be built on a build-own-operate-transfer, or BOOT, model under which the company will supply electricity to the Guyana Power and Light Inc at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per kilowatt-hour.
On Monday, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters that with the cabinet’s no-objection, the government would soon move into negotiations with the company.
Jagdeo said that the government will be buying the power that is generated through from Amaila Falls and not the project itself. Importantly, though, the government will have oversight for the project.
“That’s not coming on our debt as government debt because we are not borrowing to do that,” Jagdeo said, adding that the government, through state-owned Guyana Power and Light, can resell the power to consumers for about GUY$0.15 cents/kWh. Currently, consumers pay about GUY$0.30 cents/kWh.
The statement from the Ministry of Finance noted that the project will lower the cost of electricity needed to power Guyana’s economic diversification and transformation into a low carbon economy, as well as reduce the cost of power to the businesses and households.
The project is also expected to support initiatives such as the electrification of transport and e-mobility and accelerate the development of a robust information and communications technology sector needed for an interconnected world as well as a competitive manufacturing sector.
This no-objection for the Chinese company follows the publication of a request for proposals by the government in various national newspapers during July 25 to August 15. Four companies submitted proposals.
According to the press release, China Railway Group Limited was identified as the “most capable partner” by the evaluation committee after a “rigorous” evaluation process. Subsequently, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board submitted the relevant recommendation to Cabinet for approval of China Railway as the winning bidder.
Amaila Falls as a source of renewable energy was first identified in 1976 by Canadian company Monenco during a survey of hydroelectric power potential in Guyana. In 2009, the project was launched as part of Guyana’s efforts to pursue a more low-carbon future, using less fossil fuels like the heavy oil that Guyana Power and Light currently provides.
In 2014, the government earmarked US$80 million earned by Guyana under the Guyana-Norway partnership within the Low Carbon Development Strategy as equity financing for the project. But, the plan for development of the facility was later voted down in the National Assembly by the past administration and eventually shelved, despite a 2016 Norwegian study supporting its merit.
Jagdeo said that with the project now back on stream, no equity contribution from the government is needed.
Image: Pixabay-architecture