Guyana’s National Procurement and Tender Administration Board opened bids for the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of 16.84 kilometers (km) of 13.8-kilovolt (kv) transmission lines and communication infrastructure, on Jan. 11. This project is critical for connecting the Kumu and Moco Moco hydropower plants to the grid of Lethem, a border town near Bonfim, Brazil.
The project, under the execution of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), a state agency responsible for energy project management and promotion, attracted two bidders. 2020 FMCLT Inc. proposed a bid of GY$454 million (approx. US$2.2 million), while Cummings Electrical Company Limited offered a bid of GY$262 million (approx. US$1.3 million).
This development aligns with Guyana’s commitment to enhancing its energy infrastructure, as emphasized by Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, in the presentation of the 2024 national budget. Dr. Singh said there has been substantial progress on the Kumu and Moco Moco mini-hydropower facilities and earmarked GY$1.3 billion (approx. US$6.2 million) for their completion this year.
The construction of these plants is part of Guyana’s Hinterland Electrification Programme, which focuses on small renewable energy projects for urban and off-grid communities. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), of which Guyana is a member, supports the construction of these plants.
Notably, the Moco Moco plant is a reconstruction project, reviving a facility originally funded by the Chinese government and commissioned in 1999, which became defunct after being damaged just four years later. The Kumu plant is a new development.
The projects will support Guyana’s energy transition, switching out heavy fuel oil (HFO) with hydropower for electricity generation.
