Chiung Falls mini-hydro bid deadline passes

Chiung FallsGeorgetown: Government is seeking bids to construct the 330-Kw Kato micro-hydro project and its related irrigation system on the Chiung River.

Registration was due March, 1 for a March, 19 bidders meeting and a March 20 mandatory site visit. Questions must be submitted by April 2, with bids due April 23.

The European Union provided a US$2.5M loan for the project under the 10th European Development Fund, with Guyana responsible for covering the remainder of the US$3.23 million project’s costs. Electricity generated by the project primarily, will be used to power the proposed Kato Secondary School and other government buildings.

Guyana’s Ministry of Finance is seeking bids for two lots. Lot 1 will include design and construction of a weir and hydro plant at the Chiung River falls in Kato, including supply, installation, and commissioning of two turbine-generators for 36 meters of head and flows of 1.16 cubic meters per second. Kato is in Region Nine.

The second lot will include design and construction of irrigation infrastructure including an irrigation weir, pumping station with 90-Kw pumping capacity and four pumps, 1,000 meters of irrigation water feeding pipe, and a 7,600-cubic-meter water storage reservoir.

The Ministry of Finance is handling the process. Also, financing for a major 165Mw in Region Eight at Amaila Falls is at present being worked out by the Guyana government.

With a significant portion of its foreign currencies being used to purchase fuel for power, hydro-electric power has been on the front burner for a number of years now in Guyana.