Dear Editor,
Prime Minister, Mr Samuel Hinds, responding to my question in Parliament regarding whether or not the Government of Guyana had received any proposal from any company or group of companies, other than Synergy, to construct hydropower facilities in Guyana during the period 2006 to 2009 stated that the government had received two such proposals: one from RUSAL and the other from Dynamic Engineering Inc.
The Prime Minister forgot or omitted to mention the TRIUNFO group out of Brazil, whom he had recommended to the President by way of a letter dated August 11, 2008. This group proposed to develop hydropower sites totalling more than 2000 MW for an aluminium smelter in Guyana and electricity sales to Brazil. This company had Electrobras – willing to import electricity; Voltarantin – interested in establishing a smelter and possible bauxite and alumina operations; BNDES – Brazilian development bank; and GE-Capital – a financing company with which TRIUNFO had already a working relationship on other projects. The estimated investment was estimated to be in the vicinity of US$8 billion.
Since this short piece may have refreshed the PM’s memory, the public awaits an explanation from the PM as to why this possibility was not considered. Please note no money had to be raised by the Government of Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Everall Franklin MP
Guyana Action Party
