| The contractor who was awarded the contract for the last portion of the Amaila Falls road project has reported “significant progress” on his contract.Hassan Pasha was awarded the $834M contract to complete “Lot 7” of the road. This is said to be the most challenging section of the road, since it has to cut through virgin rainforest.Contacted for comment yesterday, Pasha said that he has had problems with machinery. He said that during the Linden protests,Huarache Shoes For Men, equipment had to reach the location through a different route and that caused some problems.He said that during the mobilization period, equipment such as excavators and bulldozers broke down and had to be fixed.Today, the government engineer overseeing the project, Walter Willis, would be visiting the site to inspect works.The government had originally awarded the US$15.4 million road project to Makeshwar ‘Fip” Motilall.On January 12, this year the government cancelled the controversial contract that was won by Synergy Holdings under the Bharrat Jagdeo presidency.The new Donald Ramotar government terminated the contract awarded to Fip Motilall’s Synergy Holdings and moved to seize all of his equipment. The government further determined that the contractor will pay US$120,000 in liquidated damages.It then launched fresh bids and selected several contractors to complete the road in different “lots.”Dr. Krishna Naraine’s Company, SRKN’Gineering is overseeing the project.Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, had said that Pasha, and other contractors working on the road, have performances bonds in place and will be called upon should the need arise.With several deadlines already missed, and lingering questions about its final cost, the government has expressed concern about the pace of construction of the road to Amaila Falls where a mega hydro power plant is to be constructed.Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon recently stated that “abiding concerns persist” regarding the road construction. The government wants the road completed by mid next year.The hydro-power plant, expected to cost close to U$1 billion, is being trumped up by the government as the project that will not only bring down electricity costs for ordinary citizens but also offer cheap and clean energy to investors.The Amaila Falls Hydro (AFH) Project reached major milestones in September, with the signing of key project agreements in Xi’an, China.The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, valued at US$506 million, was executed by AFH and China Railway First Group Co, Ltd. (CRFG). Neither Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), nor the government is a signatory to the EPC contract.AFH, as owner of the Project, has the contractual obligation to build and finance the construction of the plant, then sell the power to GPL, pursuant to agreements to be entered into with GPL and the government.The project site is located on the Kuribrong River, a tributary of the Potaro River in West Central Guyana. The nearest point of access is the airstrip at Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River, approximately 15 miles to the south. |
