Prime Minister Samuel Hinds during a hectic one-day visit to New Amsterdam and East Berbice yesterday disclosed that CGX "seems confident that (it) would be able to find commercial quantities of oil in Berbice in the near future."
Speaking to reporters at an early morning press conference at State House in New Amsterdam, Hinds said that the Canadian oil company is planning to conduct seismic work in the region by the middle of the year and by year-end "may drill for oil at the most favourable sites. It is my hope that they strike oil early."
The Prime Minister also officiated at two ceremonies, and met with residents in several communities across the region.
Asked about plans by the power company to rehabilitate the No.3 - 4.5 megawatt -Mirrlees generating set at Canefield which has been out of operation for several months, Hinds said GPL had not yet concluded "comparisons of various options which include repairing the set, buying a new engine or buying a complete generator."
He however acknowledged when pressed that consideration of what to do with the downed generator "should be completed sooner than later and a position taken." Four Caterpillar sets leased from Macorp at a cost of US$18,000 a month were installed at Canefield last December, providing an additional 4.8 megawatts of power to the Berbice Inter-connected system. They operate in support of the No.4 Mirrlees unit which produces approximately 4.5 megawatts.
The peak demand of East and West Berbicians is approximately 15 megawatts while the system produces around 14.6 megawatts with inputs from the No. 53 sub-station and Onverwagt.
In October, Chief Operations Officer of GPL, Bharrat Dindial had told reporters that repairs to the No. 3 unit were expected to cost approximately US$600,000 ($140 million). Hinds at that press conference had said that arrangements were being finalised for the purchase of another 4.5-megawatt unit for Canefield.
The set, he said, was expected to arrive in the country within five to six months. However concerns still linger among consumers about the durability of the four high-speed Caterpillar sets and their capacity to withstand the everyday rigours and demands of the system.
The Prime Minister also announced that a $1 million land use survey of an area at the mouth of the Berbice River in the vicinity of Crab Island had been completed. "This marks the start-off position of any consideration for a deep-water harbour in Berbice," which has to be linked to an area to store cargo and goods. "It should have the capacity to move approximately six million tons of material annually to justify the establishment of a port."
Asked about progress on initiatives to construct a bridge across the Berbice river, Hinds said "it remains high on our agenda to conclude all the required arrangements to start the project by year-end. Financing, cost, projections and human resources are critical areas which are being addressed and should be concluded shortly."
President Jagdeo recently announced that work on the bridge will commence this year.
The Prime Minister also noted that President Jagdeo had secured a line of credit from the Government of India to rehabilitate the Blairmont, Rose Hall and Albion Sugar Estates in Berbice.
During his packed visit the Prime Minister officiated at a turning of the sod ceremony for the construction of a new hotel in New Amsterdam. The 24-room hotel with conference facilities will be constructed by the owner of Little Rock Television Station (LRTVS Ch 10) Rockcliff Christie, at the corner of Main and Church Streets.
Later in the day he met with residents in the Mt Sinai area, a section of which has been embroiled in a court battle which has prevented its development. He also met with residents at Adelphi, East Canje who have complained about the lack of electricity, and in the Fyrish/Courtland/Nigg area to discuss problems associated with the availability of telephone lines. GT&T, Hinds said, had now agreed to install landlines in the area.
The Prime Minister also officiated at the opening of a branch of Demerara Bank at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne.
Among those accompanying the Prime Minister on his tour were Regional Chairman, Kumkarran Ramdass, Regional Executive Officer Gerald Rutherford and Community Relations Officer, Faizal Jaffarally.