– Sithe Global replacement identifiedPresident Donald Ramotar has confirmed his government?s intention to commence the Amaila Falls Hydro Project before year end. The announcement came on Monday during the commissioning of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL)?sPresidentDonald RamotarVreed-en-Hoop Plant.During his feature address, the President spoke extensively on the various requirements of the country?s growing energy sector and highlighted that the Amaila Falls project remains at the top of the government?s to-do list.Ramotar said he is personally committed to seeing the project on stream; so much so,[url=http://www.cheapnfljerseysmr.us@#$%&/]NFL Jerseys Outlet From China[/url], that another company – which he declined to name – has already been identified to replace Blackstone/Sithe Global; the company that pulled out when government failed to get the opposition?s support on the project.The Head of State said that the country needs to pursue renewable energy, which makes the Amaila Falls project a number one priority for the government. He related that GPL?s electricity generation is above peak demand, and it is worrying to think about staying above demand when the country?s economy continues to grow at a rapid rate.He charged that if it is questioned why the country is not growing at a 10 percent rate per annum, the answer will relate to cheaper energy. This, he said,[url=http://www.footlockershop.us@#$%&/Nike-roshe-one-flight-weight/]http://www.footlockershop.us@#$%&/Nike-roshe-one-flight-weight/[/url], is the future direction for renewable energy which the Amaila Falls will provide, and reduce the country?s oil dependency.Ramotar also reiterated the importance of the project.?We are working towards starting to build Amaila before the end of this year.? He said a lot of work has already gone into the project; Norway has transferred $80M to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the government has identified another company to step into the shoes of Blackstone Sithe Global. ?We are working feverishly to conclude this arrangement and are hoping to start construction very soon.?The President said that it must be recognized as a result of the Low Carbon Development Strategy,[url=http://www.cheapnfljerseysmr.us@#$%&/]Cheap NFL Jerseys Supply[/url], the agreement with Norway has already resulted in the country receiving $150M out of the $250M which it is slated to receive. He said that Guyana has to act now and ensure that in the future there is power available at cheap prices.Renewable energy mainly in the area of hydro is vigorously being pursued, but there are many other areas open to Guyana, the President stated. He pointed to the huge possibilities in the sugar and rice industries to co-generate power using bagasse and rice husk.Already, work is ongoing to get this initiative active at the level of the government. It was also pointed out that a private rice miller has imported a gasifier which uses any kind of waste,[url=http://www.basketballstore.us@#$%&/]NBA Store[/url], including agricultural waste or wood, to generate cheaper electricity.The President noted that he also learnt of GPL?s large accumulation of waste fuel that should not be discarded, but can also be burnt to generate electricity and substitute the importation of heavy fuel oil.Ramotar was also adamant about the country?s energy sector becoming a major income earner.?We must now look beyond our own needs, and see the energy sector to be an important revenue earner for Guyana. This is because Guyana has enough capacity to export electricity. When we look at the upper Mazaruni with a 4000 MW capacity in that area alone, you can see that we can become a powerhouse in exporting electricity to other countries, practically our neighbours.?This, he said, is recognized by the IDB, and talk is surfacing about building an arc, ?linking the electricity sectors from Brazil through Roraima state, through Guyana, through Suriname, through French Guiana and back again to Brazil.?He emphasised that this can allow for the development of renewable energy resources even if it is unable to be consumed locally at one time. The excess can be exported and become a major earner for the economy and help to develop cheap energy in other areas.The President also spoke of great potential in solar energy and wind power and noted that should Guyana seriously develop its energy sector, the country would be able to switch over to any one best suited at the time. He noted, for example, that the future holds oil discovery for Guyana, and in this case, if the country finds oil prices to be high at any particular time,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysshare.us@#$%&/]NFL Jerseys Supply[/url], it should be able to switch over to an alternative energy source.?We have to build an energy sector that is flexible,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysfactorywholesale@#$%&/]Jerseys NFL Wholesale[/url],? the President urged. He expressed hope that Guyana will significantly develop its solar energy potential and in the next five years work with its partners to construct wind farms on the Atlantic coast.The Amaila Falls project has faced much controversy. It failed to garner the support of opposition parties, Alliance for Change and A Partnership for National Unity, who claimed that the government did not provide enough information on the project in Parliament. While the government and its project partners were ready to go ahead with the project, the opposition remained firm that the project would not see the light of day unless all pertinent information is made available.