Government is currently looking at the development of the hydropower site at Tiger Hill, which has the capacity to adequately supply Linden with electricity, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson told the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources yesterday.
“Obviously the idea is to develop Tiger Hill; it is very close and it will obviously open up that region for other things… There has always been the idea of moving Linden towards the industrial centre, where it should be, and obviously with Tiger Hill coming on stream that can assist,” he said.
Patterson, who was accompanied by Horace Williams, the CEO of the Hinterland Electrification Unit and Head of Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Mahender Sharma, was making a presentation on the Guyana’s Hydropower Policy.
Several years ago, funding was made available for the Tiger Hill site but the project was subsequently abandoned. This site is located just over 65 km upstream from the mining town.
Asked by government committee member Jermaine Figueira if government would consider a public/private partnership for Tiger Hill, Patterson responded in the affirmative and added “that is the way to go.” He later indicated that a possible partner from Region Ten would be given first preference.
Responding to questions from Committee Chairman Odinga Lumumba, Patterson said that electricity demand for Linden is between nine and ten megawatts. He said that government’s policy and idea for Linden was Tiger Hill, which has a capacity of 28 megawatts. He reiterated that this is one of the five sites that is being reviewed by government.
He said that the ministry in collaboration with GEA has already commenced preliminary works on identifying hydro sources to match demand and is examining opportunities for the financing of hydro development for hinterland electrification. Tiger Hill is one five sites being looked at based on viability. The others are Kamira, Kumu, Tumatumari and Amaila.
Patterson told the committee that towards the sustainable development of Guyana’s energy sector, particularly the reduction of the country’s dependency on fossil fuels for electricity supply and with a renewed focus on renewable energy, the government of Guyana via the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has embarked on a number of initiatives.
He said that a National Energy Policy and implementation plan will get underway in April with a consultation involving government, key stakeholders and the private sector.
Patterson also informed that the ministry has re-engaged with a company out of Brazil, which had previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Guyana with respect to the Mazaruni Hydopower project. He said that the Brazilians have identified this project as high priority for bilateral relations and have indicated that they are “still extremely interested” in the proposal.
At the last meeting in April last year, he said, a pre-feasibility analysis was submitted.
Patterson said that it has been determined that there were two sites along the Mazaruni which can provide up to 3,000 megawatts. The agreement reached, he said, was that 85% of the energy generated will be guaranteed to the Brazilian government while 5% will be guaranteed to the government of Guyana and the remaining 10% will be in reserve but Guyana will have the “first call.” He noted that if it is not required then that 10% will be sold to the Brazilians.
The most recent update for this project, he said, is that in wake of the economic challenges currently faced by Brazil, the company with which the MoU was signed is seeking to engage with an alternative partner. “We are at this stage in the process of doing an evaluation on their proposed partner,” he said. With the present MoU, the company has undertaken to provide 100% funding for the feasibility study so that the project could move ahead.
Addressing electricity for Essequibo, he said that government is looking at a combination of wind and solar electricity for that area. He said that the peak demand there is within the rank of these two forms of renewable energy.
With respect to renewable energy, Patterson said the 26-megawatt wind farm at Hope Beach is under consideration by the Ministry, the GEA and Guyana Power and Light (GPL). He said that technical support from a German company is expected soon. He said that once studies done are successful, the project will get the green light.
Patterson said that the Bartica 1.5 megawatt solar grid proposals were returned earlier in the day with 22 submissions from “around the globe.” He said with regard to the rehabilitation of the Moco Moco Hydropower Plant, the bids are expected back by the end of March and the idea would be to rehabilitate it and use the energy to power Lethem and surrounding areas.
He said the government has also asked for concessional financing for the estimated $21 million required for solar farms for GPL, Lethem, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Mahdia.
He also detailed government’s plans for the energy sector for this year, 2017 and 2018.
