China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), which worked on the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, has been shortlisted to the build the massive Corentyne Bridge in Guyana, which would link the country with neighbouring Suriname.

A joint release issued by the Ministry of Public Works in Guyana and Suriname said CHEC is among five companies that have been shortlisted for the project, which is being executed by Guyana in collaboration with the government of Suriname.

The other four pre-qualified contractors/joint ventures are as follows:

1. China Road and Bridge Corporation
2. China Railway Construction International Limited, China Railway Construction Caribbean Co Limited and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Company Limited
3. Ballast Nedam Infra Suriname B.V.
4. China Overseas Engineering Group Company Limited, China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Company Limited and China Railway First Group.

CHEC has carried out several infrastructure projects across the region in the last 10 years, particularly in Jamaica building its toll roads and highways as well as other construction projects.

The news release noted that Surinamese Public Works Minister Dr. Riad Nurmohamed is in Guyana advancing plans for the forthcoming bridge.

High level talks on the bridge project

Nurmohamed attended the second high-level decision makers (HLDM) meeting, which heralds the culmination of the consultancy assignment that was awarded to WSP Caribbean in May 2022 for the feasibility study and detailed designs for the construction of a bridge over the Corentyne River.

The HLDM Meeting is a milestone activity of the consultancy where the key experts from WSP Caribbean will present the main findings and key considerations and field questions from the Guyana and Suriname delegations. The first HLDM meeting was held in Suriname from February 27-28, 2023.

While in Guyana, Dr. Nurmohamed met with his ministerial counterpart, Bishop Juan Edghill discussing matters relating to the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge for which tender document was issued to the five prequalified contractors on May 9 and closes August 1.

The Corentyne River Bridge will be constructed via a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement and according to the design-build-finance-operate-maintain model (DBFOM). This means that the successful contractor of joint venture will be responsible for its final design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance.

According to the agreement reached between Guyana and Suriname at the first HLDM Meeting in Suriname, offers will be evaluated, negotiated and a contract awarded by October 2023.