The assurances given by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh to the Private Sector, about creating a macroeconomic environment conducive to investments and expansion, including reliable and affordable electricity, are very welcome as Guyana is now ascend to massive transformation. More so, the commitment the Government is trying to address and repair the high cost of energy is encouraging for manufacturing. Once again, the Minister has announced the possibility of reviving the Amaila Falls Hydro project.
From the outset, it should be noted that Guyana would have been in a better position for affordable and reliable electricity supply if there had been bipartisan support for the Amro Power Hydro Falls (AFHP) project, proposed by the PPP / C some years ago back. In fact, if the Amaila project had gone through, it would have been in the system since 2017, and now the problem of constant blackouts would have been something of the past.
It may be recalled that the project did not receive Parliamentary support from the APNU and AFC parties, which at the time had controlled the National Assembly by a single seat majority. Further, despite pleadings by the PPP / C to continue the conversation and get the project restarted, when the APNU / AFC took office in 2015, he moved on and killed the project.
However, now that the PPP / C has been returned to Government, and has a Parliamentary majority, it is certain that such a transformational project would begin. As Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said previously: “We have started to review the documents etc, to chart again a path to hydropower development, because hydropower is critical, given our capacity and capability ability in the country; our abundant water resources. ”
Amaila was expected to provide a consistent source of clean, renewable energy, and was predicted to meet about 90 percent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs while eliminating the reliance on fossil fuels. It was proposed that the electricity plant be a 165 MW (installed capacity) hydropower facility located in the west of central Guyana, approximately 250 kilometers southwest of Georgetown.
In addition, it would have improved Guyana’s balance of payments by significantly reducing fuel imports, significantly reducing end-user costs for electricity, and improving the reliability of energy supply and clean energy generation – which would have helped encourage economic growth and development. by improving regional competitiveness, Private Sector investment, and Foreign Direct Investment.
An “objective and fact-based” assessment carried out by Norconsult, a Norwegian engineering and design consultancy, had concluded and recommended “the only realistic path” for Guyana to move towards and achieve its emissions-free electricity sector the Green Agenda 2025 commitment was to develop its overall hydropower potential, and in particular to run the Amaila Waterfall Hydropower Project.
Despite assurances from the power company that blackouts would be a thing of the past, over the past few years, long periods of blackout have actually increased across the country. Consumers have written several letters to this newspaper, expressing their disgust over the situation. The Government has now taken steps to ensure that citizens receive affordable and reliable electricity by using an energy mix of wind, solar and hydro. He is also working in earnest on an ambitious gas-to-shore energy project that would see an addition of between 200 and 250 megawatts of power.
Guyana currently produces electricity at around 17 to 20 US cents per kilowatt / hour. This is among the highest in the Region, and, on this basis, the Government has pledged to reduce the cost of energy in the country by 50 percent over the next five years.
As we have noted previously, energy is one area where politicians could take a two-pronged approach; meaning: the Opposition and the Government could work together towards finding a permanent solution to Guyana’s electricity problems.
Of importance, too, is that hydropower is an important part of Guyana’s future energy mix, as it is considered renewable and environmentally friendly.

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