IDB working to advance the Guyana – Brazil Land Transport Link and Deep-Water Port

Georgetown: As early as the first quarter of 2019, the Government of Guyana will have a clear idea of where to site the deep-water port and an even better understanding of what is required to make the Guyana – Brazil Land Transport Link a reality.

The Government of Guyana is working with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) via a Technical Cooperation Agreement to advance the Guyana – Brazil Land Transport Link and Deep-Water Port. The recently concluded market study has paved the way for work to begin that will see Guyana moving closer toward this goal.

At present three companies have been engaged and are working simultaneously to help move various aspects of the project into fruition. The results of the three studies to help the government of Guyana make a determination will be completed by early 2019.

Deepwater Port Location Optimization Studies by Maritime & Transport Business Solutions (MTBS). MTBS is working on to help the government of Guyana determine the optimum location of a Deep-Water Port in Guyana. The firm will prepare business case scenarios for the four potential sites, undertaking financial and economic option analyses and subsequently developing a proposal and preliminary design for development of the selected option.

Strategic Environmental and Social Studies by the RINA Group.

This study will include identification and analysis of key environmental priorities, challenges and opportunities, diagnosis of the environmental institutional and governance framework and assessment of the most important environmental and social constraints bearing on the performance of the project. This analysis and its recommendations are expected to provide valuable complementary information to support comprehensive decisions on possible strategic opportunities and cooperation.

Guyana-Brazil Border Studies by Estudios, Proyectos y Planificación (EPYPSA).

EPYPSA is expected to provide the Ministry with sound technical expertise regarding the Lethem border crossing being an integral element of a future land transport link between Guyana and Brazil. This study will build on the results emanating from the previous Market Study completed by HPC Hamburg Port Consulting Gmb. This firm will assess the functionality of the current infrastructure at Lethem, conduct mapping of the control processes and agencies involved in regulation of international trade flows, assess the information technology, identify trade policy instruments and make recommendations on international good practices, trade policy and improvements that could boost the efficiency of the Lethem border crossing. The study is expected to fully complement the above-mentioned studies by providing the technical team with valuable details and recommendations to support an effective land transport link in future.

Under the technical cooperation agreement, a transport consultant, an expert in ports and logistics, has also been contracted to provide specialized supervision services.