ExxonMobil Encourages Local Businesses to Prepare for Oil and Gas Opportunities in Guyana

Based on reporting by Guyana Times:

During the Guyana Supplier Forum 2026, ExxonMobil Guyana's Socioeconomic Manager, Lorna Carlson, urged local enterprises to prepare for potential opportunities within the oil and gas sector. Carlson stated that Guyanese businesses need to build capabilities not only to remain competitive but also to participate in the growth of the nation's oil and gas industry. She noted that the opportunities extend beyond traditional upstream activities to include infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, technology, utilities, processing facilities, and supporting commercial enterprises. Carlson emphasized that adaptability, innovation, workforce development, and collaboration are crucial foundations for long-term success, while the exact timing and scope of these opportunities will depend on future project requirements and decisions.

ExxonMobil has already laid a US$1 billion pipeline to bring natural gas from the Liza field offshore to the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project site at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), where a 300 megawatt (MW) power plant and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility are being built. This site is currently being developed to house a 300 megawatt (MW) power plant and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility. In the first phase, the pipeline will start delivering gas during the first half of 2027 to generate power. The second phase of the GtE initiative will involve the construction of a second power plant and another NGL facility at the Wales location, alongside the establishment of a fertiliser plant and a cooking gas bottling plant.

Separately, the Guyana Government is pursuing a substantial gas development project in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). This project would necessitate a significantly larger pipeline to utilize the country's gas resources to support large-scale industrial expansion, which has been mentioned to include power plants, a data centre, and an alumina plant. It was previously reported that this second pipeline might cost around US$2 billion, which is double the cost of the existing infrastructure at Wales.

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge, previously asserted that a necessary foundation must be established before such a major investment is made. Speaking at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) 2026 Energy Luncheon in September, Routledge explained that the offshore gas development and production via a new pipeline must be linked to onshore demand. He indicated that foreign investors require certain assurances before committing capital and expertise to the local market, such as certainty regarding gas supply, the specific industry for investment, investment terms, and potential local partners. Routledge suggested that local bodies, including the GCCI, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), and the Berbice business chambers, need to enhance their roles in creating the necessary environment for investments in Guyana's gas resources.

At the same event, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar advised Guyanese businesses to investigate the sector's trajectory, pinpoint areas where they can build technical expertise, and invest in the necessary people, systems, and partnerships to compete. Indar pointed to expected opportunities arising from the GtE development, such as gas utilization, storage, transportation, and downstream industries. He stressed that local businesses must look beyond oil production to position themselves for the growing range of opportunities across the wider economy, including logistics, transportation, warehousing, construction, specialized technical services, training, and waste management.