GEORGETOWN, Guyana 1/30/12 (PennWell) -- Construction of Guyana's 165-MW Amaila Falls hydropower plant could begin soon, state news agency Gina reports.
The project, on the Kuribrong River in west central Guyana, has been hampered by delays in the construction of an 85-km-long access road by contractor Synergy Holdings.
Guyana President Donald Ramotar and Sithe Global Chief Executive Officer Bruce Wrobel recently cancelled their US$15.4 million contract with Synergy, sources say.
Sithe Global is the lead sponsor of the development program and entered into an agreement with Guyana in July 2010 alongside Guyana Power and Light, China Development Bank and China Railway First Group. Sithe solicited EPC bids for the project in October 2008.
Sithe-led Amaila Falls Hydro will operate both the plant and a 270-km, 230-KV transmission line under a 20-year build-own-operate-transfer contract once it is complete.
