FOR years, Guyana’s energy story has been defined largely by rapidly rising offshore oil production. At this year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, however, discussions increasingly reflected something broader taking shape: Gas development will take greater prominence in the trajectory of the country’s economic transformation.
The conversations at the OTC made clear that natural gas is being positioned as the foundation for industrial expansion and energy security in Guyana.
The proposed Longtail development was a key mention by ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge, who explained how it fits into the company’s broader production vision for the Stabroek Block.
ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of International Government Relations Craig Kelly pointed to Berbice as an area where future gas development could support industries ranging from fertilizer and power generation to alumina and data centres. The Berbice vision is expected to be supported largely by future gas supplies from Longtail and the planned Haimara development. The discussions at the OTC align closely with the government’s ambition for a large-scale industrial hub in Berbice.
Importantly, the ambitions surrounding Berbice extend beyond energy alone. The area is also expected to play a role in a wider infrastructure buildout that includes a proposed deepwater port, and expanding road connections to northern Brazil. That broader corridor could position Guyana as a strategic link between northern Brazil, the Caribbean, and international export markets.
At the OTC, Kelly described Guyana as a potential investment anchor for northern Brazil and the southern Caribbean. That approach ties directly into the government’s broader development strategy, where gas development is expected to support not only industrial activity, but also logistics, trade and regional integration.
President Irfaan Ali’s keynote address at the conference further reinforced this direction. He described Guyana’s approach as an “energy balance” model that combines hydrocarbon development, renewable energy expansion, and environmental stewardship. A key part of that strategy is the Gas-to-Energy project at Wales, which is expected to provide cheaper and more reliable electricity while supporting industrial development. The project is widely viewed as the first major step towards using gas resources to stimulate economic activity onshore.
The proposed Berbice industrial hub represents a broader evolution of the Gas-to-Energy concept. In many ways, the conversation is no longer simply about extracting hydrocarbons offshore, but about how those resources can reshape the domestic economy. Oil production will remain a key driver of Guyana’s economy, but gas is increasingly being positioned as the mechanism through which the country can expand manufacturing, strengthen infrastructure, and create new investment opportunities beyond offshore production itself.
That wider ecosystem was visible throughout the OTC discussions.
Private Sector Commission Chairman Gerald Gouveia Jr. repeatedly emphasised the need for investment partners to help drive Guyana’s next stage of growth. Much of that future investment is expected to emerge around industrial and infrastructure opportunities linked to gas development.
Similarly, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kathy Smith stressed the importance of ensuring local businesses benefit from the country’s expanding energy economy. As large-scale gas projects advance, opportunities are expected to emerge not only for major foreign investors, but also for small and medium-sized enterprises through subcontracting, logistics, fabrication, maintenance and support services.
ExxonMobil and its contractors have already been investing heavily in local capacity development under Guyana’s local content framework. Routledge noted at OTC that the sector is increasingly moving toward in-country fabrication, maintenance and workshop support as offshore activity expands. Those capabilities are also likely to become increasingly important as gas infrastructure development accelerates.
What emerged from OTC was a clearer picture of Guyana’s next phase: Not simply an oil-producing State, but a country attempting to use gas as the bridge towards industrial expansion, regional integration, and a more diversified economy.
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.
