…can now accommodate larger vessels in Port Georgetown – Edghill
Survey charts of the expanded Demerara Channel were on Friday handed over to the Public Works Ministry – a project undertaken by NRG Holdings that will enable larger vessels to enter Port Georgetown.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Friday received the charts from local consortium NRG Holdings Inc – represented by Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base Inc partners, Nicholas Deygoo Boyer and Andron Alphonso, and a representative from Jan De Nul.
Minister Juan Edghill receiving the charts from Nicholas Boyer in the presence of other stakeholders
The consortium, which includes Hadi’s World Incorporated, ZRN Investment Inc, and National Hardware Limited is developing the Vreed-en-Hoop Port Project to support Guyana’s growing oil and gas sector. The US$300 million project is expected to become operational by the fourth quarter of 2023.
As part of the expansion, the draft has increased from five metres to nine metres; the channel has been lengthened by nine miles in the North-West direction, as well as has been widened by more than 60 per cent. The new deeper, longer, wider channel means that larger vessels can now be accommodated.
As per the extensive works, since this project began, wrecks have been removed from the channel. The dredging was undertaken by MV Galileo Galilei, which is owned and operated by Belgium international maritime infrastructure company, Jan De Nul.
In handing over the document, Boyer noted that the group was very appreciative of the Government for allowing them to undertake the project.
“We hope that everybody sees out commitment to Guyana, in terms of doing this. Since we began our project, you would have noticed dredges from our partner company, Jan De Nul out there working diligently to open up the Demerara Channel, and now that channel has moved from 70 metres wide to 100 metres wide, 9 metres deep chart datum, all the information and surveys are contained here.”
“This activity indeed was undertaken by us privately, and we hope that is a show of good faith towards what we want to build in Guyana,” Boyer added.
Minister Edghill, who was accompanied by MARAD’s Director General, Captain Stephen Thomas, and MARAD’s Legal Officer, Thandi McAllister, noted that this project provides the Government an opportunity to showcase their commitment on facilitating opportunities for Guyanese businesses.
“When we came to office, we said Guyana is open for business, and I recall very early Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and President Ali going through with all the various private sector entities that had applications for permits for major development projects, during the time of the previous Administration, but nothing was moving or going forward, and if we said we were going to facilitate business, we were going to act.”
“Coming out of that engagement a number of things happened, and we were proud when we saw that this consortium was able to put themselves together, all Guyanese, to do a major development programme. The private sector did not wait to say Government must do this before they could do what they needed to do, but went out there without the necessary capital and made the investments, with our permits, to facilitate the development that is taking place at NRG,” the Minister shared.
According to him, these charts will now form the permanent records of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) of the Public Works Ministry. It would be able to provide information for notices to mariners.
The Minister also noted that it is the directive of President Ali, that this port be able to accommodate and facilitate larger vessels than what currently frequent local waters, as well as accommodate traffic going and coming at the same time.
MV Galileo Galilei is one of the largest trailing suction hopper dredges in Guyanese waters. It has worked on projects such as the recent beach expansion in Brazil, and on other port projects.
Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base Inc (VEHSI) forms part of the Port of Vreed-en-Hoop. Phase one of the project is meant to be the special purpose vehicle to serve as subsea umbilicals, flowlines and riser shore base for projects of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).
VEHSI is currently the largest Guyanese private sector investment in the oil and gas sector, and is expected to cost over US$300 million. The project is expected to become operational in 2023. (G12)
