Guyana will lead Region in energy, food, and climate services by 2030 – Pres Ali

– as Guyana Shore Base commissions US$25M berths at Houston operation
– investment will revolutionise support to oil industry – GYSBI Director

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday stated that by 2030, Guyana will be the leader in energy, food, and climate services in the Region and beyond.
The Head of State was at the time addressing the commissioning ceremony of two additional heavy lift berths to the tune of US$25 million at the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) facility at Houston, Greater Georgetown.
He recalled as Housing and Water Minister in the previous PPP/C Government, he envisaged that the swampy lands on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) would become heavily populated housing schemes. Today, he is proud to report that his vision as the Housing and Water Minister has become a reality.

It is with this mind, he noted that his vision for Guyana to be leading the Region in energy, food, and climate services will be realised.
Nevertheless, Dr Ali highlighted the detriments of bad policymaking while expressing that after entering Government, the company and many others were awaiting approval on their permits for years.
These were granted shortly after and since then, over $25 billion has been invested along the coastline.
“Bad policymaking is detrimental, to the life of the country’s people, companies’ policymaking is not just what it is targeted for. For two and a half years, these companies are waiting for pilots in the last two and a half years, as a result of granting those permits, more than $25 billion has been invested directly along the coastline by developers,” Ali said.
As such, he lauded the company for being a ‘trendsetter’ for a modern Guyana. Ali pointed out that this experience to establish such a facility, which is the first in the Region, can capitalised to bid for contracts in other parts of the world.
Executive Director of GYSBI, Robin Muneshwer boasted that the company has been and remains the shining beacon of the industry for local content while noting that the investment is part of the culmination of rapid expansion at the facility.
The company started with eight acres of yard, two berths, and one warehouse. The expansion has led to a current operation of 155 acres and eight warehouses and four berths. The shore base operations service six rigs and two FPSOs, and can now handle as many as eight vessels within a 24-hour period.
“This exponential growth has been largely fuelled by the unparalleled success Exxon has had in its exploration activities, and the ability of GYSBI to fulfil its clients’ needs. What we have now is a fully integrated shore base, tubular, fuel water, drilling fluids, cement, waste management, and wash bays and our heavy lift berths encapsulate all of these elements into one cohesive facility,” he voiced.
These berths present a combined frontage of 1400 linear feet of waterfront development. The two new berths sit on the fully reclaimed area that was once part of a dry-docking facility. Over 20 companies and 200 employees were involved in the entire process since it was a new design for the country.
Despite its commencement in November 2019, there was a setback when a contracted employee lost his life, activating a revamp of safety practices. Weather, equipment challenges, and manpower constraints also proved challenging.
In addition, President of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Alistair Routledge said this is another significant milestone that makes GYSBI the premier berthing facility in the country but translates to both short-term and long-term advantages for Guyanese.
Routledge shared, “This facility is absolutely critical to our operations offshore. It’s a multi-service one-stop shop for drilling equipment, fuel materials, chemicals critical to our production operations, drilling operations, waste treatment, and storage of spill response equipment. GYSBI is an integral part of our operations.”
Some 25 of Exxon’s 36 vessel fleet are used for supply. These vessels load and unload every week. Before this commissioning, up to 24 vessels were coming to the berths every week. It has raised to over 30 per week after expansion.
“In 2022, more than 220,000 tonnes of cargo were moved through the shore base to our offshore facilities…The team here also performed more than 40,000 wharf lifts in order to lift cargo onto the back of the vessels. That translates to more than 110 lifts per day,” the Exxon official added.
Routledge added that such large-scale operation presents an opportunity for GYBSI to be able to support other operators.
“We’re forever hopeful that Guyana will have more success outside of the Stabroek Block. We’re happy to see the ongoing licence bid that the Government is managing. We hope that that is going to bring additional investment to the country and hopefully success too. And indeed, GYSBI is now prepared to provide support to other operators as they did do recently for Repsol and currently for CGX with their drilling operations.”
GYSBI currently employs 700 after starting its operations 11 years ago.