Red flags over Amaila and China First Railway are catalysts for a change in govt.
Amaila Falls Hydro Dam
DEAR EDITOR,
Your Friday, February 27 lead article, “Controversial Amaila Falls hydro…Govt. stands behind Chinese contractor – says IDB has safeguards,” should be the catalyst for voters to send the PPP packing May 11.
I have not known of any project that has captured, with growing consternation, the attention of a nation because of its sheer enormity in size and price, yet not many are convinced it will benefit the nation.
It seems as though this project is about the PPP being determined to score political points, perhaps lining some politicians’ pockets, and not about the people of Guyana, despite pleas and concerns by others for a delay in pursuit of the project to ensure it has been thoroughly reviewed by important stakeholders. Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
Amaila Falls dries up – new doubts about feasability
OCTOBER 11, 2013 | BY
KNEWS |
The Amaila Falls which was intended to supply the nation with 165 megawatts of electricity and save Guyana millions of US dollars is bone dry.
Yesterday, Works Minister Robeson Benn, said that it is not unusual for waterfalls used to provide hydroelectricity to run dry. He pointed to power stations in Suriname and in Brazil.
He said that when the contractors would have built a dam that would have stored water to smoothen the flow regime. The dam would have given rise to a reservoir which would have been used to regulate the flow of water for the hydro, said Minister Benn.
He said that in times of heavy rainfall the excess water would have been released through gates. He was insistent that had there been a dam the extent of dryness at this time would not have been as severe. Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
Amaila Hydro project…Price jumps to US$915M
AUGUST 29, 2013 | BY
KNEWS | FILED UNDER
NEWS …addition US$57.2 unearthed in project document
The Guyana Government has committed US$157.2 to the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, US$57.2M more than the US$100M that it has been maintaining all along.
This was contained in the ‘Confidential Project Document’ leaked to this publication. This means that the revised price tag is now in excess of US$915M.
According to the project document for the Hydro Electric Plant, in 2014 and 2015 the Government has under its ‘financial commitment’ to the project, committed US$21M to be paid each year from its Fund for Special Operations [Read more]
Months after US$ 902M Hydro Plant kicks in…Uganda forced to increase electricity tariff
AUGUST 28, 2013 | BY
KNEWS | FILED UNDER
NEWS…Sithe Global rate of return on project similar to Guyana’s 19%
Sithe Global, the developer for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, also built the US$902M, 250MW Hydro Plant in Bujagali, Uganda, and the power company in the African nation is once again being forced to ask for an increase in electricity tariff. The request comes just months after that Hydro Electric Plant would have been commissioned. Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
The Engineering Procurement and Construction agreement (EPC) for the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydro project and Transmission Line was Tuesday executed in Xian, China by Sithe Global and China Railway First Group (CRFG), Guyana’s state-run Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
The EPC contract, valued US$506 M, is the largest infrastructure contract ever executed in Guyana. The signing signals an important milestone in the development of the US$840 M Amaila Falls Hydro project which is expected to start by mid 2013. [read more]]
Like this:
Like Loading...
US$840M Amaila Falls Hydro-electric plant…
Contract to be made public if Govt. agrees – CEO Sithe Global
Bruce Wrobel
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sithe Global, the United States-based company contracted to undertake the construction of the 165MW Amaila Falls hydro-electric facility in Guyana, says that he is willing to provide all of the contract details and relevant information on the project. This, he said, is intended to increase transparency.
Bruce Wrobel yesterday lamented what appeared in the past to be a project shrouded in secrecy and promised that should the other parties, specifically the Guyana Government, concur to make available the contract document, his entity would willingly do so.
For the document to now be made available, there is need for an approval from Head of State, Donald Ramotar or an empowered delegate.
“We need the others to agree, but we are willing to make the contract available.”
Wrobel told this publication that it is in the interest of transparency that he and his team ventured to Guyana to seek to attempt to clear the air. The Guyana Government from the beginning of the project has been deafeningly silent, only venturing to the press in defence when information is published. Continue reading →
Like this:
Like Loading...
