GEA hosts consultation on Hosororo hydro power project

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has recently held a public consultation with residents of Mabaruma in Region One and other stakeholders as part of the process to ensure they are aware of what the Hosororo Hydropower Project entails, and what benefits can be derived by the community.

During the community engagement, Region One Chairman Brentnol Ashley expressed satisfaction that the project was being resuscitated.
According to Ashley, initiatives like these would aid the transformative process of the region. “I am happy that this is going to become a reality,” he said.
He added that the Regional Democratic Council fully supports the project, and also urged technical support from GEA to allow for the sustainability of the project.
Chief Executive Officer of GEA, Dr. Mahender Sharma, told the gathering at the consultation that the Hosororo Hydropower Project site has been of interest for several years, and the project is also serving as a capacity building exercise for the GEA, as it allows the hydro power support engineers of the Agency to gain knowledge and experience of hydro power development.
Further, he stated that the hydropower project was the most economically feasible when compared to solar and diesel, while he highlighted that “…while it would cost US$0.50 to produce a kilowatt-hour from diesel and US$0.36 to produce a kilowatt-hour from solar, hydropower would cost US$0.31 to produce a kilowatt-hour of energy…”
Sharma extended thanks to grant financing for the Project; this cost would be reduced to US$0.21/kWh”.
Though the Hosororo hydropower plant will contribute only eight percent of Mabaruma’s energy demand (approximately 64MWh a year), Sharma noted, the supply “would help the township diversify its energy mix, provide energy security, and reduce the use of fossil fuel”.

He said the project is one of very low environmental impact, since structures such as a powerhouse were already in place from the project’s first attempt in the 80’s.
During the question-and-answer segment of the consultation, the residents put forward a number of queries, including questions related to job opportunities, access to the site for recreational purposes, and the sustainability of the project.
In response, Sharma explained that a number of jobs would be available for residents during and after construction, including surveyors, drivers, masons, supervisors, electricians, and accountants. He said residents would still be able to enjoy the use of the area as a recreational spot, while every effort would be made to ensure that the project does not again become defunct.
Supervision of the project during the construction phase will be conducted by GEA’s Engineers, along with their counterparts from the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI) and the Mabaruma Power and Light Company (MPLC).