Guyana Water Inc. has invited firms to design, supply, install and commission a new surface water plant at Diamond on the East Bank Demerara. The call forms part of the Guyana Climate Resilient Water Infrastructure Improvement Program, which includes an invitation to bid and a late December deadline extension for submissions.
Procurement under the programme states an objective to provide new potable water access for Diamond and to improve non‑revenue water and digital systems across key networks. Details appear on the Inter‑American Development Bank’s project page and related notices.
Local press reports show an engineer’s estimate near G$6.14 billion (C$39 million), with five offers lodged by international contractors. Reported bidders include entities from China and Mexico, indicating strong competition around price and delivery approach for the greenfield facility.
Evaluation will now focus on technical compliance, construction timelines, and integration with existing distribution assets along the corridor. The project would add treated capacity for fast‑growing settlements near Georgetown.
IDB programme frames delivery
The Diamond plant sits within a broader push to expand treated water service and modernise utility operations. Under the IDB programme, priorities include new access in Diamond, leak reduction, metering upgrades, and utility digitalisation. Together, these elements aim to cut losses, stabilise service pressure, and reduce operating costs as demand grows on the East Bank. This framing signals a shift to surface water sources to reduce stress on aquifers as housing growth accelerates.
Political backing remains clear. “Every time there is improvement in infrastructure the value of the community increases,” President Irfaan Ali said during a 2025 commissioning event for a separate plant, underscoring the link between public works and local outcomes. That message echoed Guyana’s wider plan to lift treated water access along the coast. The Diamond tender aligns with that plan by adding large, centralised treatment and new transmission links.
Construction phasing and tie‑ins must keep service running for Diamond, Prospect, Grove and nearby areas, where network pressures vary by time of day.
“We are aggressively expanding our national water infrastructure,” Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal said at the same 2025 ceremony, signalling continued budget support for plants and mains. If the contract proceeds on schedule, the new facility should help reduce reliance on groundwater and improve water quality along the East Bank.
Project economics will hinge on exchange rates, steel and equipment lead times, and prudent allowance for river intake and power reliability. A competitive field suggests price tension, though final value will depend on process choice, civil works scope, and integration complexity.
Attention will turn to non‑revenue water cuts to lock in gains, since treated capacity alone will not meet demand without loss control. Award timing, contract conditions, and early contractor involvement will set the pace for delivery in 2026.