Feasibility study for Region 7 hydropower projects
The Public Infrastructure Ministry will be conducting a feasibility study for the construction of hydropower projects at Phillipai and Pariuma in the Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
This was announced by Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford, who said that the Region was anticipating the implementation of the projects which would not only generate low-cost energy, but would be a major economic boost to the two villages and surrounding areas.
In addition to providing hydroelectricity, Bradford said that the projects would have
spin-off benefits, including agro-processing.
“We are happy that the Ministry has sought to do the feasibility study in the two areas, to harness rapids to produce cheap energy, green and clean energy … Our vision is to ensure food security and we want to encourage agro-processing, but in order to do this, we need cheap electricity,” the Chairman is quoted by the Department of Public information (DPI) as saying.
Bradford explained that Upper Mazaruni villages have swathes of fertile land, for instance, in Pariuma, where citrus fruits, plantains and other produce are grown in abundance. However, every year, these areas experience major flooding. Bradford said once the projects were fully onstream, the regional administration would be assisting the villages to can the crops grown.
Additionally, a $794.5 million (US$3.8 million) 1.5-megawatt solar farm, with storage, is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for Bartica in Region Seven. The project will commence sometime this year and will last for 18 months.
Also, a one-megawatt hydro project will be constructed upstream Bartica at a cost of US$5.2 million. The funding is being sourced from the Guyana REDD Investment Fund, and the project is expected to last for two and a half years. Currently, technical assessments and other studies are being conducted.