Guyana’s long-awaited Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is back on the government’s agenda, as it once again moves to court developers to deliver the 165-megawatt facility under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model. However, the government is open to greater generating capacity.
The Office of the Prime Minister announced over the weekend that it is reopening the tender process, inviting firms with a strong track record in large-scale hydropower construction. To qualify, bidders must have successfully completed at least three projects of 100 megawatts or more in the past decade and demonstrate the financial and technical capacity to manage the venture’s demanding terrain and engineering risks.
The proposed development includes a dam, powerhouse, substation, and a 23-square-kilometre storage reservoir, all consistent with existing environmental studies and permits under previously determined project specifics. The notice from the Office of the Prime Minister said the final design could be refined to incorporate newer turbine technologies capable of improving efficiency and increasing generating capacity. Talks with the previous developer collapsed in 2022, stalling Amaila’s earlier 2027 timeline. The government has now set a February 15, 2026 deadline for the submission of detailed proposals, including financing plans.
Amaila’s revival comes as Guyana works to expand its energy mix beyond fossil fuels. The project is being advanced alongside the multi-phase Gas-to-Energy development at Wales, which will deliver 300 megawatts in its first phase. Together, the projects would mark the country’s largest ever power investments. Additionally, the government is developing small-scale solar and hydropower projects across the country.
