AFC calls for more information about company selected to build gas to energy plant
The Alliance For Change (AFC) has called on the government to make available more information about the company, which was selected to build the 300 megawatts Combined Cycle Power Plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant at Wales, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
Earlier this month, President Irfaan Ali revealed that Cabinet granted its “no objection” to engage Lindsayca Inc., a joint venture with CH4 Guyana Inc, to build the plants, which is pegged at a tune of US$900 million.
The Head of State noted that the project would be executed under an Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) Contract with an expected delivery date of December 2024.
However, AFC’s newly appointed Member of Parliament (MP), Beverly Alert, said that research shows that Lindsayca is a family company owned by Hector and Jesus Fuertes.
“In the past 17 years, Hector established five different companies, but only two seem active,” Alert noted, adding, “We are not satisfied that this company has experience on projects of this magnitude; remember, this project is pegged at close to USD1 billion.”
Moreover, the Opposition Parliamentarian said that her party found that the company has an annual revenue of just about US$10 million and is concerned that a contract is signed and the contractor is unable to execute the project.
“The AFC is not making any accusations against the company. What we are saying is that not enough is known about this company, and we believe the people of Guyana have a right to know more about this company before any contract is signed,” Alert concluded, noting that the AFC fully supports the project.
Earlier this year, nine firms were publicly pre-qualified to bid on the EPC contract. A Request for Proposals (RFP) were issued to these pre-qualified bidders, and five bids were received on the closing date of September 13.
Lindsayca Inc had submitted the highest bid to the tune of US$898,764,244. And President Ali had said the bids were evaluated for technical compliance and ranking by Stantec and Worley, two global engineering firms with expertise in oil and gas.
The Gas to Energy Project is expected to deliver power at less than half the current costs. Project generation costs, taking account of payment for the pipeline, operations, and maintenance (O&M), and capital cost recovery, shall total less than five US cents per kilowatt-hour.
