Ramotar, IDB head discuss Amaila Falls project

President Donald Ramotar on Monday met President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Luis Alberto Moreno at the office of the Guyana Mission to the United Nations in New York to discuss several key developmental plans including the Amaila Falls Hydropower project.

Following the meeting, the Guyanese head of state explained that the discussions were very fruitful. “We had a very good discussion, we spoke about Amaila and the stage where it’s at…, you know the president of the IDB himself went to China and he has been very helpful in pushing this project. We all understand that this is a very big project and very important project for Guyana, for the bank, for Sithe Global, for all involved.
“It’s a very important project so, obviously we all are looking at it and bringing the first stage, I don’t think we are very far away from bringing a conclusion to the first stage, and then we will begin the second stage of construction,” President Ramotar said.
The head of state noted too, that there were other aspects focused on during the discussions including how Guyana can tap into the global financial mechanisms.
“On the one hand the strategy we are developing, the country strategy with the government of Guyana, the president of course talked to me about the project which we and the government of Guyana have been very engaged, the Amaila Falls project, well you know there is still a lot of work to be done but we continue looking at all the possibilities for this project,” Moreno said.
The IDB head said they also spoke about the current situation in Guyana and the energy possibilities. “As always it was a very good discussion with the president,” Moreno said.
The Engineering, Procurement and Construction agreement (EPC) for the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydro project and Transmission Line was signed on September 11 in China by Sithe Global and China Railway First Group.
The Amaila Falls hydro is considered the largest transformative project in Guyana and has on board other prestigious partners such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the IDB, and the government of Norway.
The contract, valued US$ 506 million, indicates an important signpost in the development of the US$ 840 million Amaila Falls Hydro project which is expected by mid-2013.