–Jagdeo says, raps party for claims that coalition gov’t conceptualised gas-to-energy project

DEVIATING from their initial claim that Guyana’s flagship gas-to-energy project will be a ‘white elephant and a failure’, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) recently asserted that the massive project was conceptualised under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government.

However, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday rapped the opposition party for its claims, pointing to the convenient shift in narrative due to the project’s burgeoning successful future.

“After being initially opposed to the project, but realising now that the project is nearing completion and will come on stream next year and will deliver the enhanced power at a lower rate next year, and at a lower cost, too, they are now claiming the project once again,” the General Secretary said at a news conference.

Both the PNCR/APNU and AFC had publicly attempted to discredit the project. “If this was their brainchild, what did they do about it? Dr. Jagdeo quizzed.

He further pointed out that perusing such a project, which aims to enhance a country’s power supply and reduce cost, is common across the world.

“This is done routinely around the world; this is not a special idea that Jagdeo has or the party could claim credit for,” he said.

Nations have recognised that perusing gas exploration is a less polluting fuel than diesel.

“For you to claim that you had a great idea here, when the entire world is doing this… We are not doing anything unusual; what we are doing, we are moving forward with what the world has done, because we have a need for it, and it will bring a benefit to our people,” Jagdeo said.

“They are so devoid of ideas of any substance that you have to claim generic idea,” he added.

As the gas-to-energy project progresses, Guyana is even touted to become an exporter of cooking gas.

Dr. Jagdeo, back in August, had emphasised the project’s far-reaching impact, particularly on electricity costs, stating that, “The price will plummet, and the cost of electricity will become more stable. The price will be cut by 50 per cent, so that the price of people’s electricity will go down.”

“When the gas-to-energy project is completed, we will become an exporter of cooking gas; now we import all of our cooking gas,” he had said.

The considerable decline in energy expenditures is projected to bring advantages to households and businesses across Guyana.

It was disclosed that the sale of cooking gas alone in Guyana has the potential to generate an annual income ranging from $70 million to $100 million.

The gas-to-energy project involves delivering gas from the Liza field, offshore Guyana, to Wales, where it will be processed at an integrated facility. This facility will house a 300-megawatt power plant, and a natural gas liquids (NGL) processing plant. The dry gas will be used for electricity generation, significantly cutting costs for domestic consumers, while the NGLs will be commercialised.

At a total cost of about US$1.8 billion, the project is a necessary investment in Guyana’s power-generation capacity, at a time of quickly growing demand. It is also a game-changer for Guyana’s energy future, aimed at reducing emissions, improving energy reliability, and addressing the high cost of power.

Guyana currently relies on heavy fuel oil for power generation, which is not only expensive but more environmentally taxing. By transitioning to natural gas, the gas-to-energy project will reduce the country’s emissions, while providing much-needed relief to consumers by cutting electricity costs by 50 per cent.