IN 2026, Guyana aims to deliver concrete economic growth, business opportunities, and improvements for its citizens, as its energy sector moves from planning to real-world implementation. Years of investment and offshore project development are now set to produce measurable results, marking a decisive shift toward tangible impact.
One of the most significant milestones anticipated in 2026 is Guyana’s oil production capacity surpassing the one-million-barrel-per-day mark. This surge is being driven by the Uaru development, the fifth offshore project in the Stabroek Block, which is expected to begin production, adding around 250,000 barrels per day. Combined with the ongoing safe optimisation of existing fields such as Yellowtail, this expansion could lift national output to well over one million barrels per day by late 2026.
Beyond oil, 2026 may usher in a new frontier for natural gas development. The Longtail project, ExxonMobil’s proposed eighth offshore venture and the first designed to tap non-associated gas, is expected to undergo government review and potential approval. If advanced, Longtail could bring significant volumes of both condensate and natural gas, laying the groundwork for expanded industrial gas utilisation and positioning gas as a central pillar of Guyana’s energy mix.
Exploration activity is also expected to continue expanding beyond the Stabroek Block. Newly awarded shallow-water blocks S4 and S7, operated by international groups including TotalEnergies alongside Petronas and QatarEnergy, as well as Ghana’s Cybele Energy, are slated to enter their study phases in 2026. These efforts will include seismic acquisition and early technical assessments, which signal a broader push to identify new resources outside the country’s established offshore developments.
Onshore, the highly anticipated Gas-to-Energy project remains a major strategic focus for 2026. Government projections currently target the commissioning of key components, including the 300-megawatt gas-fired power plant and the natural gas liquids separation facility, by the fourth quarter of the year. Once operational, the project is expected to reduce electricity costs, improve reliability, and lower emissions, delivering more competitive energy pricing for households and industries.
Linked to this push are several industrial ventures expected to advance this year. These include anticipated contract awards for the natural gas liquids storage and marine offloading facility, an ammonia and urea plant, and a gas bottling company at Wales. Together, these facilities are intended to transform gas resources into marketable industrial products and domestic energy supplies, including more affordable cooking gas and agricultural inputs.
Beyond production statistics and project timelines, 2026 is also shaping up to be a pivotal year for local participation in the oil and gas sector. Guyana’s Local Content Secretariat is currently undertaking a data-driven review of the Local Content Act, using real spending patterns within the industry to assess where participation can be expanded across additional sectors. At the same time, the Government is moving to revise the legislation to introduce provisions that would allow Guyanese citizens to earn guaranteed, fixed returns from investments in machining and engineering services linked to oil and gas activity. Together, these measures signal a shift towards deeper, more inclusive local content implementation, aimed at ensuring that Guyanese workers, businesses, and investors are better positioned to benefit as the sector continues to scale.
In short, 2026 is shaping up to be the year when plans translate into performance. The infrastructure laid over the past years is beginning to deliver energy security, industrial growth, and economic returns that extend beyond the oil and gas sector itself. As the industry deepens its imprint on Guyana’s development journey, success will increasingly be measured not just in barrels and pipelines, but in jobs created, businesses strengthened, and reliable energy delivered across the country.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
