Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali signaled the last quarter of 2026 as the start date for the Gas-to-Energy project.
“We are hoping by the last quarter of 2026, the Gas-to-Energy project will be in a position to deliver,” the President said on Tuesday.
In a recent interview about the performance of state utility Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Ali said the country faces “a massive problem” in the power system and that the transmission network needs to be “redone,” describing an overhaul that he said costs US$600 million. He said rising demand, maintenance lapses and accidents that damaged major poles have compounded challenges, even as the government tries to keep the system running while upgrades proceed.
“We are doing it at the same time while the growth in consumption and demand is moving at an exponential pace. So you have a transmission issue. We have a production issue. And yes, we had a delay on the gas issue. We acknowledged it. Is it where we want it to be? No. But today we have a plan,” the President said.
Ali said the Gas-to-Energy project is expected to be in a position to deliver by the last quarter of 2026, but that its impact would also depend on transmission and distribution upgrades being completed.
The project has been marred by delays. It was previously expected to be completed in the final quarter of 2024, but is now projected to be completed about two years later. Before Ali’s comment on Tuesday, the government had said the project would be completed by mid-2026.
ExxonMobil, operator of Guyana’s offshore Stabroek Block, completed its part of the project in keeping with the original schedule, including a pipeline to bring natural gas from offshore developments to onshore facilities, while construction of onshore infrastructure has taken longer.
The Gas-to-Energy project is expected to cut electricity costs by about 50% and reduce emissions from power generation by shifting supply away from heavy fuel oil, according to government statements. Lower power costs are also seen as key to improving Guyana’s investment climate and competitiveness for local businesses.
