Jagdeo rubbishes Patterson’s remarks on renewable energy

– reiterates importance of AFHP to green energy plan

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has taken Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson to task over recent statements he made in regard to Government achieving its set renewable energy goals by the end of 2018.
Jagdeo says Government’s plan is unrealistic and unachievable.
Patterson has made a commitment to Guyanese that the country will be powered by 5 megawatts of renewable energy by year end; but Jagdeo has said this statement is “pure nonsense! Total nonsense! It’s a lie!”
Jagdeo has said that with only six months to go before the end of 2018, he is uncertain where the proposed five megawatts of power will be sourced from. The only renewable energy project that is ongoing is located at Mabaruma in Region One, and this will produce less than half a megawatt of power.
“Well, let me tell you something about the small solar units that they are putting in place…that it is a conduit for corruption, as I said before. It’s a conduit for corruption, nothing else,” Jagdeo declared.
He explained that it is not a case where the people will get free electricity, but they are going to get it from another source.
“I’m afraid that 2-3 years down the line, those systems will go down,” he added.
Jagdeo has argued that the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project (AFHP) is a lost opportunity for Guyanese to experience clean and cheap electricity. He maintains that the project remains the best option for Guyana, and would only result in huge benefits to the people and the local economy.
The coalition Government had discontinued the AFHP project when it assumed office in 2015, but of recent has been speaking about plans to restart it.
Minister Patterson recently provided updates on a number of multi-million-dollar hydro and solar- power projects that had seemingly been gathering dust. One such project is the Hope Wind Farm, facing criticism centred on the actual investor – proprietor of the International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), Lloyd Singh, who had acquired and built the headquarters of the Alliance for Change (AFC).
According to Patterson, there have been some technical issues which had to be ironed out, such as the size of the development. He has, however, reported that there has been progress on that front, and the power purchase agreement is presently being finalised.
Patterson also spoke of a US$3.8 million solar farm which will be constructed at Bartica with funds from the Inter-American Development Bank. He had said this will be completed by the end of 2018.
Meanwhile, the private developer of the Tumatumari hydro project in Region Eight has been given a deadline to reach financial closure with investors. When all agreements have been signed and conditions met, dispensing of the funds will begin.

Patterson has noted that if the developer, Tumatumari Hydro Inc, proves unable to meet the July month-end deadline set by the state for financial closure, Government would take over the project.
When this newspaper contacted residents at Tumatumari on Friday, they reported that representatives from the Tumatumari Hydro Inc had met with them and had indicated they were awaiting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval before they can move forward.
The Opposition has long called for the reintroduction of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project for a number of important reasons. Jagdeo has said not only does the scrapping of the project threaten the forest pact agreement with the Kingdom of Norway, which could cause the country to lose out on another US$3 billion in savings, but it could assist Guyana to combat climate change.
This project, the brainchild of Jagdeo, formed part of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and was commissioned in 2009. But having taken up office in 2015, the current Government had repeatedly stated its disapproval of resurrecting the project.
The former President believes the coalition Government has killed the project, although it was set to provide Guyana with a massive source of electricity.
An independent assessment of the project had revealed that the only realistic path for Guyana moving towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential, and the fastest way forward is to maintain this project.