A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) did not support the Hydro-Electric Power (Amendment) Bill 2013, No 15/2013 and the Limit on Amount Outstanding under Guarantees given under the Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act when they were brought before the National Assembly, at its 62nd Sitting on Wednesday 7th August.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) did not support the Hydro-Electric Power (Amendment) Bill 2013, No 15/2013 and the Limit on Amount Outstanding under Guarantees given under the Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act when they were brought before the National Assembly, at its 62nd Sitting on Wednesday 7th August. These measures were approved by majority vote of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the Alliance for Change.
APNU voted against the measures because it is not prepared to support a project the financial architecture of which is likely to condemn Guyanese to excessive indebtedness. The Partnership cannot support a project which will fail to provide assurance that the final cost of power to the consumer will be appreciably lower than the currently tariff.
APNU is aware that no comprehensive document on the AFHP has ever been presented for debate in the National Assembly. The Partnership found it impossible to give its unequivocal support for a project when only two peripheral matters had been presented for debate. The Partnership iterates its concerns about the financial arrangements for the project, the final tariff to average consumers, design of the plant, the final cost of the project and GPL’s ability to deliver electricity to consumers.
APNU has had engagements with the Government of Guyana, the Caribbean Manager and Guyana Country Manager of the Inter-American Development Bank and representatives of the Blackstone and Sithe Global Groups on the proposed Amaila Falls Hydro Power (AFHP) Project. The Partnership understands that the IDB is engaged in a ‘due diligence’ study of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project with respect to three areas – Economic analysis, Environmental security and the capability of Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to deliver electricity from Amaila Falls Hydro-electric Project.
APNU iterates its commitment to contributing to a genuine solution to Guyana’s short, medium and long-term energy requirements. The Partnership supports hydropower development and local or foreign direct investment.
