KINGSTON, Georgetown – The question of transparency for the mammoth Amaila Fall Hydro Power (AFHP) project should be “a moot one” since key stakeholders had possession of the project’s documents for more than a year now.
This sentiment was expressed by Minister of Public Works, Hon. Robeson Benn, on Tuesday during a tour with reporters.
The US$840M AFHP has been in the headlines on a daily basis after the combined opposition voted down a Bill and a Motion at the last National Assembly Sitting to propel the hydropower project forward.
According to the Works Minister, proper project management has been practiced on the large scaled project’s conceptualization.
“…when we had difficulties on this project whether it was a Guyana company or a foreign contractor that failed we dealt with them. Whether it was Synergy or whether it was Bovell, or Pasha when they did not perform we dealt with them. We are running a proper project…and it is being done in the national interest. We dealt with those things and issues and the question of transparency and so on is a mute one now given that all the documentations were given since last year March have been provided to all those who may have an interest in it.”
The AFHP is expected to generate reliable, affordable and clean energy and the project is a fundamental component of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
It is intended to significantly lower Guyana’s carbon footprint while reducing the country’s long term energy costs and exposure to the volatility of imported oil prices.
The 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 the Guyana capital, Georgetown, and its second largest town, Linden, by an electric transmission line.
