Latest update February 18th, 2026 12:35 AM
Govt. eyes partnership with Suriname for second gas project in Berbice
…Pres. Ali says “our investors are ready”
(Kaieteur News) – The Government of Guyana is hoping to partner with neighbouring Suriname on its planned second gas-to-energy (GTE) project which will be located in Berbice, Region Six.
President Irfaan Ali made the disclosure during the opening of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo 2026 at Guyana Marriott Hotel.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government had signal its intentions for a second GTE project, even as the first GTE project at Wales West Bank Demerara is still to be completed. President Ali had stated that before the end of the decade, a second GTE pipeline routed through Berbice would be constructed.
President Irfaan Ali and Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, President of the Republic of Suriname.
At the opening of the conference, President Ali told the attendees that discussions are underway for a joint initiative that could see gas from both countries being used for a larger-scale project in Berbice. He said, “And on the path of integration for Berbice gas project we want to do this with our friends in Suriname and we are hoping that our friends in Suriname can make a decision to join us by bringing their gas with our gas so that we can move from a medium size project to a larger scale project for both of our countries and the region.”
Ali stressed that the proposed partnership with Suriname is time-sensitive, with investors awaiting clarity. “We are hoping that very quickly we can have some decisions, because our investors are waiting on those decisions and those decisions are critical for your future and our future,” he said.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips recently stated that the Wales GTE project is now 68 per cent completed. The first GTE projected started five years ago during the Irfaan-Ali PPP first term in office. The project entails bringing natural gas from the Stabroek Block through a 12-inch pipeline which was built by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), to fuel a 300-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle gas turbine power plant and an integrated Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility at the Wales Industrial Estate. The project, which has already missed several deadlines is expected to reduce consumers electricity bill by 50% when operational. However, government is now hopeful that the initiative could finally deliver cheaper and more reliable electricity by the end of this year. In relation to the first project, President Ali noted, “We are now completing our first plant and we are in the process of finalising the second plant.”
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