Local participation in Guyana’s offshore supply chain continues to expand, with Guyanese investors taking on larger roles in shore bases and port facilities that serve the country’s rapidly growing oil and gas industry.
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat said this shift is one of the clearest signs that the Local Content Act is reshaping the sector in favour of domestic ownership. He made the comments during a November 9 appearance on the Energy Perspectives podcast.
He noted that Guyana’s legislation prevents a repeat of what often happens in new oil-producing states, where international operators “bring their supply chain with them” and local companies struggle to enter the market. By contrast, he said, “Our local companies…they are now part of that supply chain too.”
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Bharrat pointed to the composition of the country’s two operating shorebases, the Guyana Shore Base (GYBSI) and the Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base (VEHSI), which both include Guyanese partners.
A third port is underway, led by another Guyanese investor. Bharrat said it is evidence that locals are moving beyond service-level roles into capital-intensive infrastructure.
The Minister explained that this wave of investment stems from clear carve-outs in Schedule One of the Local Content Act, which protects specific categories for Guyanese companies. He said local accommodation, transportation, logistics and catering providers have used that foundation to grow, and the same trend is emerging in larger projects such as shorebases and port terminals.
He stressed that the expansion reflects confidence among local businesses, not just compliance with policy. “You will see more and more Guyanese taking up the challenge and investing in the sector.”
Bharrat said Guyana’s approach is now seen as a model for other new producers seeking to ensure that major infrastructure remains rooted in the domestic economy.
Since the enactment of the Local Content Act in 2021, the total procurement of goods and services from Guyanese companies and nationals has surpassed US$1.5 billion.
Guyana’s Local Content Act has facilitated the employment of Guyanese nationals in the industry, with 40 specified areas in the service sector mandating local procurement by oil and gas companies and their subcontractors.
