The proposed Berbice gas development, a collaborative venture between the government and investors, is emerging as a far larger and more outward-facing initiative than the country’s flagship Wales Gas-to-Energy project.
Both projects involve piping natural gas from offshore fields in the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block to onshore facilities. But their scale and purpose differ significantly.
The Wales Gas-to-Energy project, located on the West Bank of Demerara, is primarily aimed at domestic transformation. It involves piping associated gas to shore to generate power for domestic use and produce natural gas liquids (NGL) for sale. It is designed to cut electricity costs and support economic activity in Guyana.
Phase one will bring about 50 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) of gas onshore. A second phase could lift total volumes to roughly 125–130 mcf/d. Together, they would support the generation of 600 MW of power to replace power currently generated by heavy fuel oil.
By comparison, the proposed Berbice development is being shaped around gas volumes that are several times larger. One of its intended supply sources, the Longtail project, is targeting production of up to one billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of gas, with a larger pipeline to transport it to shore. Additional supply could come from the Haimara project and other prospects in the Southeast Gas Area of the Stabroek Block.
The scale difference is central to understanding the project’s role in relation to gas-to-energy.
While Wales is largely structured to meet domestic energy needs, the volumes associated with Berbice are likely to exceed what Guyana alone can absorb. That dynamic is driving a different model that depends on large-scale industrial use and access to external markets.
President Irfaan Ali has said the Berbice development is intended to support an industrial hub in Region Six, with potential investments in fertiliser production, alumina processing, data centres, and power generation.
Unlike Wales, which is largely government-led onshore, Berbice is expected to rely more heavily on private and international investors to develop downstream industries. Coupled with broader infrastructure that the government is creating the conditions for, such as a deepwater port and a road linking Guyana’s coast to Brazil, the Berbice development is being primed for international resonance. The upcoming project is a platform for Guyana to expand its role as an energy exporter, beyond crude oil.
With significantly larger gas volumes available, the administration has pointed to opportunities for exporting power to northern Brazil and deepening energy cooperation with Suriname. Such moves would position Guyana as a supplier of energy and energy-linked products across the region.
The Wales Gas-to-Energy project is intended to make Guyana more competitive at home by lowering energy costs and improving stability. The Berbice development, in contrast, is aimed at leveraging excess capacity to support regional energy markets.
Together, the projects outline a two-tier approach: one focused on fixing domestic constraints, the other on scaling production to meet the region’s needs. When realised, Berbice would represent the more consequential step, not only because of its size, but because it could redefine Guyana’s role in the region.