President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Daniel Best said Guyana’s energy market is “credible, investable, and strategically important” as the regional lender positions itself to help finance the country’s low-carbon transition.
Best delivered remarks on February 17 during the opening of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo. He outlined how the CDB can support Guyana’s energy buildout through blended finance, de-risking instruments, and project preparation support.
“Guyana’s energy transformation will not be financed solely from public balance sheets or multilateral lending,” he stated.
“Private capital is indispensable for achieving the scale, speed, and innovation required.” He said this is giving birth to a welcomed shared shift in perspective.
He described that shift as: “Governments viewing private investors as long-term partners in development, and investors recognizing that Guyana’s energy market is credible, investable, and strategically important.”
He noted that in this context, public-private partnerships, climate funds, and green and sustainable bonds are becoming “central elements of Guyana’s energy financing toolkit”.
He highlighted Guyana’s climate standing, emphasizing energy security and competitiveness.
“The fact that Guyana has maintained its net zero rating, and in some quarters, Guyana is listed as carbon negative, highlights this country’s commitment to balancing development with climate responsibility. Recent global shocks have reinforced the need for resilient, diversified energy systems capable of supporting sustainable growth and protecting economic stability,” he added.
Best explained that through the CDB, Guyana can access blended structures that combine commercial capital with concessional resources, including climate funds, and can leverage instruments such as green and sustainable bonds to mobilize private investments at scale.
He emphasized that investments in modern power systems, whether in community generation, grid reinforcement, or digital infrastructure, require substantial upfront capital. “Investors place a premium on certainty, clear tariff frameworks, transparent procurement processes, and predictable permitting.”
He stressed the importance of project readiness, noting that it often determines whether financing flows. “In many of our economies, sometimes the bottleneck is not funding availability but project preparedness. Capital flows to projects that are ready.”
Even with a string of massive oil developments being pursued offshore Guyana, the country will remain a net carbon sink for years to come.
Guyana’s forests, covering more than 80% of its landmass, play a critical role in carbon capture and biodiversity services. Recognizing this value, Guyana has monetized its forest conservation efforts by offering forest carbon credits for purchase. Guyana’s credits are generated under the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) using The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES), which certifies large-scale forest conservation efforts.
Guyana’s expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 will set aside 15% of all funds earned through the conservation of its lush forests to be used for the advancement of its Indigenous people.
