GUYANA has produced one billion barrels from the Stabroek Block, a milestone that comes as the ONE GUYANA FPSO for the Yellowtail development marks its first year of production.
ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge, drew attention to the one-billion-barrel mark at last week’s launch of the 2027 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo. Achieving that level of production is a significant point in Guyana’s offshore history, less than seven years after first oil in December 2019.
The figure speaks to the scale of the resources being developed offshore. However, production is only one part of the story. Around it, Guyanese workers are gaining technical experience, local businesses are adjusting to new standards, and systems are being established to support increasingly complex operations.
ONE GUYANA is part of that wider story. Its one-year anniversary places the billion-barrel milestone in practical context: Guyana’s production growth is being supported by large projects that require people, services, technical knowledge and reliable operating systems.
The work around ONE GUYANA and the wider offshore industry is also giving Guyanese professionals experience in engineering, operations, maintenance, logistics, safety and project support. Local companies are participating in the network of goods and services needed to keep offshore activity running.
That experience matters because the value of the sector cannot be measured only by production figures or the number of jobs available at a particular time. It is also reflected in the skills workers can take into future roles, the standards local companies learn to meet, and the technical and managerial experience that can support other projects.
ONE GUYANA also reflects the standards expected of modern offshore developments. In April 2026, the American Bureau of Shipping awarded the FPSO its SUSTAIN-1 notation. According to ABS, the notation recognises compliance with its vessel sustainability programme, which considers environmental and human elements associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This recognition is a reminder that offshore production depends on more than the capacity to extract oil. It requires strong operating systems, safety practices, environmental management and recognised standards to guide how projects are designed and operated.
The experience being gained at Yellowtail can therefore extend beyond one field or vessel. Engineering knowledge, operating procedures, supplier relationships, safety practices and workforce experience can help Guyanese workers and businesses prepare for future developments.
With Guyana having produced one billion barrels, the focus should not rest on the number alone. The more important question is how the country continues to turn production into capability that lasts.
ONE GUYANA’s first year helps to answer part of that question. It shows how a major offshore project can support the growth of skills, businesses, systems and experience. If that progress continues, the billion-barrel milestone will represent not only what Guyana has produced, but also what the country is becoming better equipped to do.
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.
