(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – By the time the Tapajai hydro energy project is completed the energy demand in Suriname will be much higher, experts tell de Ware Tijd. ‘At the pace at which developments involving this project take place, it will take years before Tapajai becomes operational and in the meantime the demand will keep growing,’ says energy consultant Viren Ajodhia. ‘Tapajai will be a temporary solution to the increasing demand for energy.’
Ajodhia is surprised the project has not taken off yet. ‘Hydro energy is cheap, but the longer you wait the more expensive it becomes. In the meantime you have to generate energy by using very expensive diesel.’ The expert points out that Tapajai and a number of additional hydro energy projects in West Suriname had to be operational by now to meet the growing demand. Hydro energy expert Lothar Boksteen, who has been involved in the project from the start, confirms Ajodhia’s conclusions. ‘Tapajai’ is an abbreviation for Tapanahoni River and Jaikreek. The project aims at increasing the water level in the Brokopondo reservoir by channeling the Tapanahoni River through the Jaikreek towards the reservoir. A higher water level would mean better utilization of the Afobakka generating potential.
In the second phase, additional generating facilities along the river could utilize the increased flow of water to generate electricity.
