With funding amounting to US$2.5 million from the Inter-American Development Bank [IDB] under the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, a mini hydro plant is likely to be completed by early 2019. The plant is expected to cater to the electricity needs of Region Eight communities including: Kato Paramakatoi and other surrounding areas.
According to Minister of Infrastructure, David Patterson, the design for the project has been completed and moves are being made to source a contractor.
The hydropower plant will use the Kato Waterfalls at the Chiung River [close to Kato village] to provide about 320Kilowatts of electric power. The electricity will be administered to the Kato Secondary School, the village of Kato and the 18 Kilometers distant village of Paramakatoi, according to information released by the Department of Public Information.
This move, according to DPI comes as part of the drive to provide adequate electricity supply to the hinterland which will soon see several communities benefitting from improved electricity distribution.
It was also revealed that for electricity distribution in other hinterland communities there are no major challenges except in Lethem. This is due to the poor road conditions which make it difficult to transport diesel into the community.
The Minister emphasised that his Ministry is intensifying efforts to ensure that, as far as possible, all hinterland communities receive an adequate supply of electricity.