Energy security essential for developing digital solutions, cutting edge tech – Pres Ali

– says technological progress stalls without energy security

With Guyana currently aggressively expanding its digital support systems at every level, President Dr Irfaan Ali has asserted that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s work to ensure energy security is a critical component of this vision.
President Ali recently made a feature address at the Spring 2025 Berkeley Innovation Forum in California. While there, the President spoke of how energy security and technological innovation are both deeply connected.
“Advancements in technology are needed to drive the development of more efficient, sustainable energy solutions. Energy supply is essential for powering innovation, enabling industries to develop cutting edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI), automation and digital infrastructure. Without energy security, technological progress stalls.”

The President, who used the opportunity to tour tech companies from Silicon Valley, warned that without innovation, sustainable energy solutions cannot be reached. He quoted the words of former United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, who spoke of the importance of energy.
“Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon once said, and I quote: ‘Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, social equity and the environmental sustainability’,” President Ali said.
“At this time, the consequences of future development of AI are not fully clear, but I believe, that we should adopt a positive approach to AI, and look at the possibilities of AI directed to the public good.”

Energy projects
The PPP/C Administration’s flagship Guyana to Energy (GtE) Initiative is divided into five components: the pipeline from offshore production activities to Wales, the construction of the power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facilities, the transmission main to move power generated at the plant, a new control centre at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and the upgrading of the national power grid.
Upon completion, the project is expected to substantially lower electricity generation costs, enabling Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) to reduce tariffs by up to 50 per cent. This reduction has significant implications for the Guyanese economy, fostering more competitive production costs and stimulating broader economic growth.

Only on Friday, contracts worth US$442 million were signed to upgrade the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) transmission system… with over 320 kilometres (km) of high voltage power lines to be installed, 167-km of 69 Kilovolts (kV) double-circuit transmission lines to be put in place, five new substations to be constructed, and the Kingston substation to be upgraded.
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has already finished constructing the gas pipeline, and the transmission lines and substations required for integration of the project are significantly advanced, with completion anticipated by mid-year.
Other works completed by the contractor last year include 140,000 metres of piles driven at the site. Over 7,000 steel piles, some at 37.5 metres are slated to be driven for this project. Earlier in December the contractor, LNDCH4 had reported that some 3,715 of these piles had been installed.
Meanwhile, another major milestone in 2024 was the arrival of two state-of-the-art gas turbines from Sweden in October. These turbines, capable of generating 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity, are set to revolutionise Guyana’s energy landscape by providing cleaner power for decades to come.
Also, two state-of-the-art steam turbines and two oil tanks arrived in the country on December 21. These critical components of the GtE Project were safely transported and stored at the warehouse, until installation.
Back in July 2024, LNDCH4-Guyana successfully offloaded and transported seven essential transformers – devices that will step up the voltage for transmission and help to minimise energy loss, ensuring a stable power supply to homes and businesses in Guyana.
The manufacturing of the Flare, the Heat Recovery System and the NGL Facility as well as the NGL Storage Tanks, were also completed. According to LNDCH4, these works were completed during 900,000-plus accident-free hours.