Developers of a mega green-energy project in Region 10 were earlier this month served with a notice of termination by the state holding company, National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), in which it was explained that the entity had failed to deliver its objective as outlined in its business plan.
The company – Guyana Initiative Against Climate Change (GIACC), which aims at producing two types of fertilisers using renewable energy and raw materials of air and water, was served with their first notice of intention of termination of their deed of lease back in November and received their final notice on March 3 this year.
The termination was brought to light, through a press statement from the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development (LCICD) in which it voiced its disappointment at the treatment of the matter.
“NICIL’s decision is not only unreasonable, but it also represents an abuse of their fiduciary position as a government agency,” the Chamber was quoted as saying.
Stabroek News understands that following the 2019 notice from NICIL, the company through its US-based Director, Sharon Benjamin-Fauconier, had taken NICIL to court. The company was awarded judgment in its favour, after which it moved ahead with its building application.
Benjamin-Fauconier in a brief comment to Stabroek News explained that subsequent to being granted judgment in
her favour in late 2019, she proceeded to submit building plans for approval from the Central Housing and Planning Authority.
The building plans for one of the three proposed buildings was approved in November 2022, days after she received the letter with the intention to terminate from NICIL.
The developer stated that at present, the property has 187 solar panels and all infrastructure to harvest solar energy.
“I am going to fight this to the end. My attorney would have submitted a statement of claim to the courts… it is not easy and I am not prepared to walk away… I have already invested $40 million…” she underscored.
Head of NICIL, Radha Krishna Sharma, when contacted last night by Stabroek News for a comment said he was at a social function and promised to provide a comment on the matter today.
The Linden Chamber yesterday called on NICIL to reverse its decision and engage in meaningful dialogue with GIACC to address concerns that exist.
“As an organization that represents the interest of local businesses and investors, we strongly believe that NICIL’s decision is not only harmful to the economic development of the region but is also contrary to the principles of transparency, accountability, fair and equal opportunity to do business,” it posited, while assuring that the Chamber stands in solidary with the company.
Moreover, the LCICD called on the Private Sector Commission and all chambers of commerce in the country to stand against and condemn NICIL’s action.
With her development sitting on a 503-acre plot of land bordering Kara Kara Creek in Linden, in the vicinity of the popular mined-out pond known locally as the Blue Lake, Benjamin-Fauconier believes the return of the ‘fight down’ stems from prospective tourism development.
Co-exist
“They need to accept that someone already have the lands. It is either they walk away or come and talk to me as to how we can co-exist. I don’t have anything against the area next to the lake being used for entertainment purposes for the community, but NICIL have to give me that permission in writing,” the businesswoman emphasised.
She stated that it remains her vision to develop a world-class facility which will give youths leaving school and university top-tier job opportunities in the field of science and technology.
“These are the kinds of jobs you need in a developing country. Kids need the opportunity to have access to these jobs…” she pointed out.
The LCICD has stated its concern that should this project not become a reality, the potential for skilled jobs and talents will also die.
“We urge the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that the interest of local businesses and foreign direct investors are protected and promoted,” the Chamber said as it highlighted the need for due diligence to be followed.
The company back in 2017 started its process to acquire lands and was granted a lease agreement from the now deceased NICIL Head, Horace James.
In a 2019 interview with this newspaper, Benjamin-Fauconier had said that while some persons have used parts of the now water-filled former bauxite pits to swim in, they believe that the area could be transformed to produce clean energy, while they also want to set up a manufacturing entity which would produce and export fertilisers, among other products.
It was with that in mind, she said, that she applied to NICIL for the lease and was told that she had to submit a detailed proposal.
Business Strategist for GIACC, Everton Forris, who had also spoken via telephone from the US, gave a brief insight into the scope of works contained in the proposal. The company submitted their plan “describing its intentions for the site – the types of high technology and the technological skills it will bring. This includes the types of collaboration it would need through the University of Guyana and technical schools and the products planned to manufacture and export,” he said.
“GIACC plans to manufacture two types of fertilisers at the site, both using renewable energy and raw materials of air and water. Fertiliser `packing’ is the least of what GIACC plans to do. 503 acres of land is not needed to pack fertiliser but [is] a large acreage for solar cells, solar steam generation and other plants needed to manufacture fertiliser in quantity. In addition to this, solar energy acreage for fuel cell and electric buses and energy to generate hydrogen for cooking gas was factored into the land-lease,” he added, observing that fertiliser is a product that will “bring needed foreign exchange to Guyana.”
In the first instance, NICIL had dispatched a letter to rescind the lease from the company. At that time, the agency was headed by Colvin Heath-London.
