Norwegian firm identifies “flaws & risks” with Amaila Falls Project ;several remewable energy options being considered

The Government today (Wednesday December 28,2016) announced that its long term renewable energy plan would be presented to cabinet by mid-January.

According to Minister of Public Infrastructure under whose purview the renewable energy project falls, the final touches are being made to the draft document and following Cabinet’s input it would be made available to the wider public.

A Government release quoted the minister as saying that Government is committed to exploring all avenues for the development of renewable energy in keeping with its “green” agenda.

This is as the Government of Norway has released the report on the review of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) done by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway contracted by the Government of Norway to complete an ‘objective and facts-based’ assessment of the project on the agreement of two Governments.

The statement further noted that the project is just one of several renewable energy options being looked at by Guyana, however Government believes that the Report identifies several risks and flaws in the design of the project, which will threaten its long-term effectiveness and prove too costly and burdensome to the people of Guyana and the country as a small developing state.

The review is being given utmost importance by the Government, since according to the release it provides indisputable evidence to support its long held position that the Amaila Hydropower Project in its current configuration does not meet minimum requirements to ensure its viability and longevity.

The Government believes that rectifying the many issues identified will increase the total cost of the project substantially, thereby impacting the tariff rates from the outset.

In addition, there are at least six more years of work to be completed, including a minimum three years of water flow study and analysis on the project. Having studied the Report and conscious of the specific needs of the country, the Government of Guyana proposes to utilise a mix of energy options, starting with less risky options such as solar and wind, as outlined in Budget 2017.