The Government of Guyana has re-invited proposals for the 165 megawatts (MW) Amaila Falls Hydropower project.

According to the Request For Proposals (RFP) issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, the Government is seeking investors for a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model.

Interested companies are expected to submit a proposal for a hydro dam with a design to deliver at least 165 MW and transmission lines and sub-stations. This revised request follows a 2021 request based on a combined project (Hydro and transmission lines) under either a BOOT or Design-Build- Finance (DB-F) option.

According to the notice published by the government, the project, which is expected to deliver a minimum installed capacity of 165 megawatts (MW) of power, forms a key part of Guyana’s clean energy transition.

The hydro facility will include a dam, powerhouse, substation, and a 23-square-kilometre storage reservoir, consistent with environmental studies and permits.

Under the revised Request for Proposals, developers are required to assume all geotechnical risks associated with the project and must demonstrate proven capability and financial capacity to deliver large-scale hydro projects.

The government has stated that while the transmission network will be developed separately, the size of the hydro may be re-engineered to take advantage of advancements in turbine technology, potentially allowing for greater power generation.

“This project will be executed through a new Special Purpose Company (SPC), which will receive all relevant licenses and permits previously issued up to April 2015. Independent supervision of the project’s design and construction will also be engaged under agreed Terms of Reference (ToR),” the Office of the Prime Minister said in its publication.

The notification stated that only firms or consortia that have successfully built at least three hydro projects of 100 MW or more in the last ten years will be considered.

Amaila was initially planned by the administration for start-up in 2027. But talks with its last contractor fell apart in 2022.

The Amaila falls project has been a planned flagship project of the governing PPP for several years.

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