Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL), an Indian company, secured the US$159.9 million engineering, procurement and construction contract to build the transmission lines and sub-stations needed to distribute the power generated at the forthcoming Wales Gas-to-Energy project.
The contract was inked at the Office of Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Wednesday.
A press release from the High Commission of India to Guyana noted that KPIL is one of the largest specialised engineering companies from India, with an annual turnover of around US$2 billion.
KPIL is currently executing 250 projects in over 30 countries and has a global footprint in over 70 countries, the release further stated.
Meanwhile, a release from Guyana’s Department of Public Information (DPI) noted that Prime Minister Phillips stressed the importance of completing the national-scale project on time.
“This is another manifesto promise that we are delivering to the people of Guyana, and you are playing an integral role in ensuring that the people of Guyana are freed from unstable electricity, and blackouts come August 2024.
“So, I look forward to working closely with the principles of Kalpataru and ensuring relief to the people of Guyana from unstable electricity to reliable and sustainable electricity at cheaper costs,” he was quoted as saying.
The Prime Minister, who is performing the duties of President, also reminded the officials gathered at his office that more than 60 per cent of Guyana, or about 500,000 people, would benefit from the project.
And he pointed out that the cost of electricity, which currently stands at an estimated $45 per kilowatt hour (kWh), will be significantly reduced to around $24 per kWh.
In December, the contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of the Guyana integrated natural gas liquid plant and a 300-megawatt power plant at Wales was inked between between the Government of Guyana and US-based integrated energy solutions group, LINDSAYCA, in partnership with a local firm, CH4 Group.
Through this project, Guyana will use natural gas produced by an ExxonMobil-led consortium in the Stabroek Block offshore to fire the power plant. From that, electricity and other products like cooking gas will be produced.
