By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Public Works Minister Robeson Benn is assuring the Guyanese Public that there is no reason to be alarmed with the drying-up of the Amaila Falls – the falls intended to power Guyana’s first Hydro power Plant.
The Minister was at the time responding to an article Published in today’s Kaieteur News (October 12) titled: “Amaila Falls runs dry.” He explained that while there was some attempt to engender some sensationalism on the matter it is in fact a normal phenomenon.
“It does bring some awareness to what can occur,” Benn said. The Minister told iNews that currently Guyana is experiencing extremely dry weather in its interior and on the coast, resulting in the low water regime in the river. This he says has resulted in the reduction of flow over the falls.
The Public Works Minister further explained that it is because of such occurrences that the Government opted to build along with the hydropower plant a dam to create a reservoir so that there can be a constant flow of water to run the turbines for the plant.
“That is why we included a dam in the design, to ensure sufficient flow of water… this is a normal phenomenon, even Kaieteur Falls experience reduced flow of water,” the Minister said.
The future of the project is currently not clear, with the recent pull out of the firm that was constructing the plant – Sithe Global – citing the lack of political consensus. Government Officials have since expressed their optimism in bringing the project to fruition.
The Amaila Falls Hydropower plant was being constructed at a cost of US $860 million and had intended to provide over 160 megawatts of electricity.
[Feature Image by Kaieteur News]
