Luncheon declares… Amaila will become reality by hook or by crook Written by Telesha Ramnarine Wednesday, 25 September 2013 23:14 HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon declared, yesterday, that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project will become a reality “APNU or no APNU, AFC or no AFC.” Speaking at his usual post-Cabinet media briefing in Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, he does not mind the statement “by the hook or by crook” as it reflects the Administration’s intention to make renewable energy available. “We are absolutely, down to our bones, committed to this reality. By hook. The hope still exists. There is still that hope that the current configuration could be, in some way, resurrected. I do know that we are, assiduously, pursuing making renewable energy becoming a reality. APNU or no APNU, AFC or no AFC. By hook,” Luncheon maintained. Not too long ago, Government had said the Amaila Falls Project is too important and big to fail and, despite widespread condemnation by the Opposition, it was keeping its doors open to allow for a national consensus on the scheme. Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn had told the Guyana Chronicle that Government is still hopeful that the Opposition would “see the light” and have their concerns, misunderstandings and confusions sorted out. “We have spent billions of dollars developing the road. It is fairly well built; many of the sections are completed. For the first time in the history of the country is the opportunity to have a complete, large hydropower project, meaning anything over 60 megawatts. In this case, for Amaila, it is 160 megawatts,” he stated. National consensus Benn added: “We would think, given the importance of this project to the economic development of the country that it is too important and too big to fail. We would want to still open the door to the Opposition parties (APNU and AFC) to allow for the opportunity to have a national consensus on this project. And so we are still holding the door open.” The minister had also emphasised that Amaila is not simply a Government or a PPP/C project. “It is also an APNU project and an AFC project, because it is a national project. But the Government is seeking ways, legally, to examine what avenues are open to advance the project.” The Amaila Hydropower Project is expected to generate reliable, affordable and clean energy and is a fundamental component of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). It is intended to, significantly, lower Guyana’s carbon footprint while reducing the country’s long term energy costs and exposure to the volatility of imported oil prices. The venture involves the construction of a hydropower plant in the area of west-central Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong Rivers meet and electricity produced there will be delivered in Georgetown and Linden by a transmission line. Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 September 2013 23:15
Posted on: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 11:57:43 +0000
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