Guyana: President Expresses Concern Over GTE Project Delays, Affirms Commitment to Completion

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has expressed the government’s dissatisfaction regarding the delays in the construction of the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project, which has a budget of US$2 billion. During a press conference, he addressed concerns about the shifting deadlines for the infrastructure project located at Wales, West Bank Demerara. Despite the delays, he emphasized the administration’s commitment to the project and confirmed that a 50 percent reduction in national electricity tariffs will be maintained once the plant becomes operational.

The GTE project aims to transport natural gas from the offshore Liza field to a 300-megawatt (MW) power plant and natural gas liquids (NGL) facility onshore. The project has missed its initial completion target of mid-2025, leading to scrutiny of the performance of the international contractors and the engineering consortium, CH4-Lindsayca. When asked about the confidence in the project’s timeline and the partnership with Lindsayca, President Ali acknowledged the challenges faced, stating, “We are not happy—we have made that position clear before.”

He also noted that the foundational infrastructure, including the undersea and terrestrial pipeline, is fully completed. “We are now working aggressively on the ground to push this project over the finish line,” he stated. The President reaffirmed that the financial modeling for the project remains intact, ensuring that utility cost reductions for households and businesses will not be affected by the delays.

In addition, President Ali announced that the government is already planning for a second phase of the Gas-to-Energy project due to the rapid economic expansion in the country. He indicated that the demand for power will quickly absorb the output from the first phase, leading to the development of a permanent energy matrix aimed at reducing reliance on expensive fuel imports.

Source: hgptv.com