2014 Budget should have prioritized resuscitation of Tumatumari Hydro – Bulkan
April 1, 2014, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source
The resuscitation of the Tumatumari Hydro-electric Plant should have been a major priority of Government in this year’s National Budget since the residents of Mahdia and neighbouring Region Eight communities are being rationed electricity supply.
This is according to Ronald Bulkan, A Partnership for National Unity’s Member of Parliament during his Budget debate presentation in the National Assembly yesterday. While, highlighting several deficiencies in the Region that need urgent remedying, Bulkan said “Perhaps the most galling problem though concerns electricity supply to Mahdia, the administrative centre of the Region and where residents presently receive a maximum of 12 hrs daily and have to pay $100 per kilowatt per hour.”
Ronald Bulkan
According to Bulkan, in this year’s Budget, $208M was allocated for the supply of electricity in Mahdia, Mathews Ridge and Linden. However, it is not yet stated how much of that amount is designated for Mahdia. Nonetheless, he is certain whatever amount is allocated would only be a band aid when a win-win, as well as, a permanent solution is already there.
“I refer to the Tumatumari Hydro-electric Plant on which a test run in 2012 established it to be functional. While the Government has entered into a contract with a private promoter who has the know-how, for lease of this facility,” Bulkan said.
He noted that the contractor has so far been unable to raise the financing for the full rehabilitation of the power plant and to run the transmission line to Mahdia mainly due to the development capital.
“I say that given the importance of electricity and the presence of this facility in the Region, there can be no valid reason why the Government could not have found a way to see the facility become operational by way of a simple equity contribution and to benefit thousands of persons by fostering development as well as job-creation,” he added.
According to Bulkan, a mere $30M would have been sufficient and not by way of a handout but rather an equity contribution to develop the plant.
“We recall that massive concessions and incentives were given for CWC in 2008 but it appears that the residents of Region Eight are second class citizens. This is why residents there have told me that they believe they are a part of apartheid,” Bulkan stressed.
His recommendation was echoed by Region Eight Chairman, Mark Crawford, who believes that the Tumatumari Hydro-electric Plant is capable of solving the Region’s electricity woes.
Crawford said it will be a more reliable supply of electricity and he is hopeful the communities will receive 24 hour supply, with few power outages. He said that Government would also be saving revenue on fuel that is used to operate the present power plant. And, it will also help to reduce greenhouse gases.
“Persons living along the line from Brian Sucre Junction to Mahdia can set up small cottage industries, which will create jobs, which will be much needed here in a short while from now since most of the mining lands will be soon worked out,” Crawford noted.
Crawford said that he is appealing to Government to make funds available to resuscitate this hydro plant. He believes that funds to resuscitate this hydropower project could be had from the GRIF fund.
“I would like the government to make the funds available to us in the Region to fund this project,” he said.