PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali’s outline of Guyana’s petrochemical potential at the Berbice Development Summit this week was a timely reminder that the country’s energy future must extend far beyond crude production.

According to the Head of State, if the nation is serious about long-term economic transformation, then the conversation must now shift from extraction to value creation, from exporting raw resources to building industrial capacity at home.

The President’s presentation was grounded in a central premise: Guyana can no longer afford to leave value on the table. With rising production, now at an unprecedented 900,000 barrels per day and expanding gas resources, the country has both the momentum and the leverage to chart a different developmental trajectory.

The scenarios outlined are not speculative wish lists; they reflect real, achievable industrial pathways. The first, a high-value export model, demonstrates how gas fractions can be transformed into ammonia, urea, methanol, fuels and plastics products that anchor global petrochemical markets. The inclusion of a gas-powered data centre campus adds a modern economic layer that aligns with Guyana’s broader digital strategy.

The second scenario, centred on mass employment and widespread inclusion, presents a more diversified industrial ecosystem. Here, mid-scale industries such as fertiliser production, steelmaking, cement, glass, aluminium, cold storage and agro-processing could create thousands of jobs and meaningful local participation. It is a model designed not just to grow the economy but to broaden who benefits from it.

The third scenario offers perhaps the most immediate advantage using cheaper, more reliable gas energy to upgrade the country’s raw materials into finished goods. This would strengthen domestic industries while reducing import dependency and stimulating sectors such as construction, mining and agriculture.

The President’s mega-complex vision, an integrated facility that monetises every gas fraction and reuses all CO₂ reflects the scale of thinking required in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape. Such a project would place Guyana firmly on the petrochemical map and attract a generation of downstream investment.

The recent PSA with TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and PETRONAS, carrying a record US$15 million signing bonus, signals growing confidence in the country’s direction.

The opportunity before Guyana is profound and government is currently moving full steam ahead to making sure all the required discipline, policy, strong institutions and a national commitment are there to move from potential to performance.