Govt in talks with EBD farmers to acquire lands for national projects

…GtE transmission lines to Berbice among projects being facilitated

Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, SC, has revealed that the Government is in negotiations with farmers along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridor, to acquire land for national development projects that include the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project.
During the recent commissioning of a Magistrate’s Court at Friendship on the EBD, Nandlall highlighted other developments taking place in the area. He revealed that the Government is seeking to acquire more private land to facilitate these development projects.
“Right here on the East Bank corridor, the farmers of Friendship, Garden of Eden, Craig, all the way to Mocha. I’m sitting and negotiating with each of them, as well as their lawyers. Because we have to acquire lands again,” the AG said.
Nandlall noted that land has to be acquired for a number of transformative projects. These include the GtE Project. With the Government phasing out wooden poles for its distribution lines, massive steel structures would likely have to be built to support the transmission lines.

“The road, the highway that I’m speaking about. And the transmission line, a 65 kVA (kilovolt-amperes) transmission line and a 230 kVA transmission line that will be running from the Gas to Shore Project, from Wales, over to Garden of Eden.”
“Then straight along the conservancy. We’ll take it straight to the back. And run it straight along the conservancy. Because they are high voltage wires. And we have to clear a path, for it to run,” the AG further explained.
According to Nandlall, this particular line will be going all the way to Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), where it will be integrated into the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).
“That is a massive undertaking. And that will address our energy issue, perhaps permanently. Because we are clearing the corridor also, for additional sources of energy. From hydro etc. We’re making one path that will accommodate all transmission lines for the future.”
“That’s the time of transformational development taking place, right now. Right on the East Bank of Demerara. Right here at Friendship,” the AG added.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration’s flagship Gas-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 carry power generated at the plant, a new control centre at Eccles, 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. The Government has said that when completed, the project’s benefits would include a doubling of the country’s electricity generating capacity to keep pace with the growing demand.
Benefits will also include the slashing of electricity prices paid by consumers by 50 per cent. This reduction has significant implications for the Guyanese economy, fostering more competitive production costs and stimulating broader economic growth.
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.
In January 2025, the Office of the Prime Minister had issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), inviting qualified firms to provide their proposals for the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of the GtE Phase 1 NGL Plant.
It was reported in February that the Guyana Government was negotiating contract terms with German company Siemens Energy SAS, which had been selected to operate the 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant – a key part of the highly-anticipated project.