Delays in Gas-to-Energy Project: Added working hours to help meet new deadline – Minister Bharrat

– as gas development set to take centre stage at Energy Expo 2026\

Reiterating the Government’s concerns over the delays in the highly anticipated Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat says that the increased daily working hours will help to advance the project in order to meet the extended deadline of mid-2026. Located at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), the GtE Project comprises a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant and a natural gas liquids (NGL) facility that are being built to utilise the rich natural gas that will be piped from the Liza Field in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana. That pipeline has already been laid by ExxonMobil, the United States (US) oil major that is leading production operations in the oil-rich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana and is now awaiting the completion of the GtE facility to bring the gas onshore. US-based Lindsayca was awarded the US$759 million contract to build the facility that will see the cost of electricity slashed by half and ensure a reliable power supply across Guyana. At the time of the award, however, Lindsayca was in a consortium with another US-based company, CH4. The two companies have since split due to internal disputes, resulting in Lindsayca Guyana taking full control of the project. Prior to the breakup, the consortium had been embroiled in an arbitration suit with the Guyana Government over a US$50 million claim being made by the contractor for delays in other aspects of the project that affected the timely delivery of the GtE facility. But according to Minister Bharrat, these issues have been sorted out, and the Government is working with the contractor to have the project completed in the new year. “We would have loved to have that project completed by the ending of this year at least. However, we’re working with the company – there were a few issues well-ventilated in the media with that company… I’m happy to say all the issues have been sorted and the company is working. And they’ve made a commitment that they’re going to actually add more hours to their workdays so that the project can be completed in the new time frame given,” the Natural Resources Minister told reporters at the launch of the Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE) 2026 on Friday.

Round-the-clock operations
Only back in October, it was reported that works have intensified at the GtE Project site, as the contractor moves to have all four gas turbines installed on-site by the end of December. At the time, President Dr Irfaan Ali had conducted a site visit to witness the final cement pour for the foundation base of the last of four turbines.
“The work is progressing from the power plant to the substation in the north and then around to the NGL plant. With the foundations being poured, the four gas turbines should be laid in the foundations by December, and a lot of the heavy equipment brought in and placed in foundations. Most of the equipment for the project is already manufactured, and a lot of it is in the country…[more] is being shipped right now. And so, by early January, the majority of equipment for the project will be here,” Project Coordinator Winston Brassington had indicated to the Head of State. Moreover, it was also revealed that Lindsayca Guyana had already moved into round-the-clock operations with a man camp constructed on-site so that the work can be accelerated as well as the doubling up of engineers and the labour force. “The contractor, the consultant and the project team – one of the things that they’re committing to is working 24-7, increasing not only the man hours but the manpower itself. The engineering and labour force here will more than double in the coming weeks so that we can get back on a timeline as quickly as possible,” President Ali had stated.
At the time of the visit in October, there were about 400 persons working on-site, and according to an official from Lindsayca, “Our target is to finish this project next year.” The power plant and NGL facility are just Phase One of the GtE Project. The second phase will see another 300 MW power plant and NGL facility constructed at the same Wales site, utilising the rich gas from offshore.

Manufacturing sector
The highly anticipated GtE Project is just one component of the Guyana Government’s industrialisation vision for the country. It will be used to power the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) – an industrial and manufacturing hub that will be built on approximately 1400 acres of land, where plans are afoot to construct a fertiliser plant, data centres, agro-processing industries and light manufacturing facilities. Minister Bharrat, at Friday’s Energy Conference launch, noted that the flagship event provides the platform to highlight not just the oil and gas sector but the expansion of all the sectors in Guyana. “We are speaking about building out new sectors to support the oil and gas sector and the others too, like ICT (Information and Communication Technology). Manufacturing will probably be a highlight of this conference, especially with the Gas-to-Energy Project being in its advanced stage to date… The gas is actually ready to be delivered to the power plant. That power plant is under construction. So, as soon as the plant is finished, then we will definitely have cheaper, more reliable electricity from that facility at Wales,” the Minister noted.
While he noted that manufacturing will be one of the most critical areas that any investor or any investment coming into the country, or even local investors, should look at, the Natural Resources Minister recognised that one of the major hindrances to the local manufacturing sector is the high cost of electricity that drives up production cost – something that will be rid of when the GtE Project comes on stream. “We should look at manufacturing as the next big thing in Guyana because it brings so much value to a country. It brings so much benefits to a country. It creates so much opportunities for direct and indirect employment, so much opportunities for the private sector to expand their operation. It saves the country valuable foreign currency. We can be a major exporter of products rather than importing those products…”

Gas development
In addition to manufacturing, the Natural Resources Minister believes that the development of Guyana’s natural gas resources is also expected to be one of the buzz topics at the upcoming GECSCE 2026.
“This conference, I believe, will be one of the biggest… It has grown from strength to strength over the last four years. And I’m sure we can expect nothing short of that in 2026. I can tell you it will be a really defining conference, especially in the context that now we are going to move towards developing our gas resources. And there have been a lot of interest now on gas.”
This view was also shared by President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, who recalled the excitement and interest that were generated back in February at this year’s Energy Conference after sharing the company’s vision for not just oil production but also gas development in Guyana. In fact, Routledge anticipates that next year’s event will further heighten the interest in Guyana’s push to develop its offshore resources, including gas, as well as continue the vital conversations on what is needed to propel the industry and the country forward.