San Diego, California: Two hydropower projects, including the Amaila Falls project, are expected to add 370 megawatts (MW) to Guyana’s power generation matrix by 2035, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said on October 16.
The official delivered the keynote address at the La Jolla Energy Conference in San Diego, focusing on Guyana’s balancing act between oil production—currently at 650,000 barrels per day— and environmental sustainability.
“Even as we embraced this new reality [with oil] in our country’s development trajectory, we have remained resolute in our support for the global transition from fossil fuels,” Persaud said.
The plan for two hydropower projects is included in the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS). Though they are not new plans, it is notable that they are being reinforced, given recent plans by the government to pursue a second phase of the Gas-to-Energy project.
The first phase of Gas-to-Energy, expected to achieve first gas in 2025, will power a 300 MW power plant. The outline for phase 2, which adds a 250 MW power plant, alters the government’s transition plan, particularly the emissions profile. However, the Guyana government is under pressure to meet the country’s rising demand for power. Proposals have been sought by the government for a phase 2 developer. The government believes phase 2 could take two years to develop, providing a stand-in for the delayed 165 MW Amaila Falls hydropower project.
Amaila was initially planned by the administration for start-up in 2027. But talks fell apart with its last contractor in 2022. The state utility, Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), now envisions a 2029 start-up date for Amaila. The second hydropower project is expected to be identified by 2025, according to LCDS 2030.
The government, as Persaud reminded, has several small-scale solar and hydro projects to add to the mix. These have varying start dates in this decade.
