More than a year after the Moco Moco hydropower plant collapsed, the regional chamber is drafting proposals to reactivate it, given no firm word from the government on its future.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told Stabroek News the government is still awaiting proposals for the station, which was shut down on July 7, 2003 after it was damaged by landslides.

About 480 residents of Lethem and neighbouring communities, who were being served by the power station, now have a 14-hour ration of power per day, which is sourced from a 275 KVA generator.

But businesses that now face steadily rising fuel prices plan to consult experts to formulate a proposal of their own, according to Alfred Ramsarran, Chairman of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

"It's been a year now. Several studies were done and up 'til this moment we haven't had any feedback," Ramsarran says, lamenting the virtual silence of the government on the issue that a minister had described as a national disaster.

Landslides damaged sections of the water transmission pipeline of the hydro-station, which was constructed by the government with technical and financial assistance from China.

It once provided residents with a 24-hour supply of power, although there was a shortfall during the dry season.

A team of engineers from China visited the station earlier in the year to conduct investigations.

On March 9, the Government Information Agency (GINA) published the findings from the team, which projected that the station could have been reactivated in a year. It recommended rebuilding the damaged pipelines and protective measures against any future landslides, estimating the cost at US$500,000.

The team had also given estimates for a design which would completely remove risks for future failure of the dam.

However, that option would require an additional six months of work and would cost somewhere between US$2M to US$2.5M.

A source familiar with the team's findings told Stabroek News that more geo-technical surveys need to be done to determine the viability of restoring the power station which might have to be relocated if the current site is found to be unstable.

GINA reported that the team's final proposals were to have been presented to the Office of the Prime Minister the very next day. Hinds was quoted then as saying that the options were expensive.

Last week he said the government is still to receive the report from the team, which it was supposed to send through the Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Co-operation.

"My awareness is that they were going home and to write back [to the ministry] their findings and their proposals and I've checked and it hasn't happened as yet... they [the ministry] haven't received it as yet," he told Stabroek News.

Ramsarran says businesses are very concerned about the power situation, especially after a year with no explanation from the government.

Another consideration is the development of industry in the region which cannot be sustained by the current generator.

Significant growth is projected for the region after the completion of the Takutu Bridge and there are already plans for construction of a regional hospital.

The issue of a reliable power supply was raised recently with officials from the Commerce Ministry who met the RCCI to discuss the development of an industrial site in the region.

A 500 KVA generator was also promised to the residents since November, but this has yet to materialise although the government reported that a new generator was purchased with funds approved by the Cabinet.

"Our concern right now is that even if we get a new generator it won't be of any use since the fuel prices will make access to electricity very difficult," he noted, adding that the revenue generated by the venture is insufficient to support it.

He said the business community has set up a committee to work out estimates for repairs after consultations with technical experts.

It was noted that while the pipeline was damaged, the generator and turbine are still intact.

Ramsarran said businesses lose everyday and over the last year have suffered significantly in many areas as a result of the shutdown of the hydro-station.

He also explained that the situation is so bad, businesses have had to resort to buying ice from Brazil to cool their perishables.

Linda Khan agrees, describing last year as a rough one for many businesses, especially those that had invested in electrical appliances.

She operates a guesthouse and a supermarket and had installed an air conditioning unit that she can no longer afford to use.

Now, she said the cost of power has almost doubled although the supply is limited.

The RCCI had been exploring the feasibility of accessing power from private power companies in Brazil. A company was identified but it was determined that it would be an expensive venture in the long term.