Amaila, a project for all Guyanese – Minister Benn – access road is 67% completed
The importance of the Amaila Falls Hydro-Power (AFHP) Project was emphasised by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn when the media was given a tour of the project’s access road and a fly-over of the Amaila Falls on the Kuribrong River today.
A section of the Amaila Falls Access road under construction
Minister Benn described the trip as one which would enable the local media operatives to get a firsthand look at the progress made thus far, enabling them to have a better understanding of some of the challenges faced by contractors executing the project. A similar trip was organised by the Public Works Ministry in June for a team of parliamentarians from the Alliance for Change and the A Partnership for National Unity, and consultants.
“Amaila Falls Hydro-Power Project is a PPP/C project… an APNU and AFC project, as well as a project for all Guyanese,” Minister Benn said.
An overhead shot of one of the contractors’ camp at the Amaila falls access road
The minister expressed the hope that all stakeholders would realise the importance of the project to Guyana’s future development.
“We want to remind again, at the last minute, at the final hours as it were, the public, the Guyanese public and those overseas as to the importance of the project, as to why its parameters and activities are valid for our country’s development, and why it is so important here at the last minute or hour as it were, that everyone should have a clear understanding, so that they can support the project. No one at the end of the day should say that they didn’t understand the meaning and importance of this project, this vital national project,” Minister Benn stated.
On July 18, the parliamentary Opposition voted against the bill to amend the Hydro Electric Act and a motion to raise the debt ceiling that would create the financial design to put into operation the Amaila Falls project.
The AFHP project is the largest foreign investment and infrastructure project in Guyana with the potential to sustain Guyana’s overall economic growth, based on a consistent, reasonably priced electricity grid for its industries.
The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) is a financing partner for the development of the US$840M project.
Amaila falls on the Kuribrong River, Region Eight
Minister Benn reiterated that government is always willing, waiting and open to meeting with the parliamentary Opposition to discuss any query about the transformational national project as “It transcends all of us so we are willing to meet at anytime”.
Recalling the recent trip which saw several political figures visiting the site, the minister said that all of them expressed a better appreciation for the work being undertaken despite the challenges being encountered. “The reports in the media were that they were surprised that so much work was done and that they were very pleased to see that young Guyanese people were working on the project at all levels. That’s at the levels of labourers, equipment operators, surveyors, engineers and environmental persons, that people were active on the project and pushing it ahead”.
Due to requirements by the funding agencies, which include the need to protect what is described as “virgin forest”, security checkpoints will be constructed to restrict access to the roadway, with only indigenous residents and project workers having free access.
The access road to the proposed site is 67% completed when work done on sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is taken into consideration, according to Public Works’ Ministry Consultant Engineer Walter Willis.
The road works are on track thus far to meet the projected December 31 2013, completion date.
The Amaila Hydropower Project involves the construction of a hydropower plant in the area of west-central Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong rivers meet. Electricity produced at the plant will be delivered to Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, and its second largest town, Linden, by an electric transmission line.
