Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy project remains one of the country’s most closely watched developments, and the government is again reiterating its impact as a catalyst for national development.
In a recent Energy Perspectives podcast, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat described the project as the foundation for a long-planned shift toward value-added production, a stable power supply, and lower energy costs.
He noted that Guyana has endured decades of costly and unreliable electricity, a factor that has influenced the country’s development path. “This project will change Guyana forever,” he said, calling it “the most transformational project in the history of our country”.
Bharrat said the government has maintained a consistent position that cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable power is necessary to unlock industries beyond raw exports. The project is expected to come online in 2026, a point the minister noted, stating: “Once this project kicks in…we will have cheaper power as we promised. We’ll cut the electricity cost by 50%.”
He emphasized that the reduction will be directly reflected in households. Using an example, he said an ordinary consumer paying GY$20,000 per month “will then pay GY$10,000”, adding that this creates more savings and more disposable income for Guyanese.
The Minister said that lower power costs will also support the expansion of agro-processing and small-scale manufacturing, areas that have been constrained due to high operating expenses. He pointed out that Guyana still imports basic items such as “toothpick…boxes, spoons”, arguing that these can be produced locally once the cost of electricity drops.
Bharrat linked this shift to the government’s plans for the Wales development zone, which includes an industrial and manufacturing park. He said value-added production will expand markets for farmers, reduce spoilage and stimulate investment. “If you don’t move towards value added… you don’t really enjoy the true benefits of your resources.”
Construction moves apace on Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy project | OilNOW
Beyond economics, he said the project also aligns with Guyana’s wider climate commitments. It will deliver “cleaner” power, he explained, and support Guyana’s status as “one of the few carbon negative countries in the world”.
Bharrat said the project’s broader goal remains unchanged: improving daily life for ordinary people. “That is the standard of living that we speak of,” he said. He described a future in which households can afford more appliances, small businesses can expand and locally made products replace imports.
Read more about the project here: A guide to Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy project | OilNOW
