Georgetown, March 30, 2026, 16:09 (UTC-4)
ExxonMobil has pegged the Haimara gas field as the centerpiece for its ninth offshore project in Guyana. At the same time, a fresh utility forecast projects power demand could reach 1,575 megawatts by 2030, adding momentum to a proposed second gas pipeline to Berbice—a project the company estimates could top $2 billion. 1
That’s become key now, as Guyana looks to channel offshore gas into lower-cost electricity and kick-start new industries—not just ship out more crude. Both Exxon and government officials maintain that a Berbice pipeline hinges on commitments from major, long-term gas consumers. Power plants, data centers, fertilizer production, and bauxite-to-alumina conversion are all being floated as potential destinations for the gas. 2
ExxonMobil Guyana president Alistair Routledge described Haimara as part of the company’s so-called southeast gas area, stretching from Longtail to Haimara. Confidence is building, he said, that the project will get past investment hurdles. Exxon could seek environmental approval from Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency in the next few weeks, Routledge added, with a full development plan targeted for filing about a year from now. 1
The onshore segment comes with a hefty price tag. Routledge estimated the Berbice pipeline at $2 billion or more—about twice what it took to build the original line running from the Liza field to Wales for Guyana’s gas-to-energy initiative—and called it “not a small investment.” He added that initial conversations with Suriname on sharing a pipeline might help lower costs through economies of scale. 3
Peak demand on Guyana’s main coastland grid, the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System, climbed to 221.5 MW in 2025, up from 126.4 MW back in 2020. This year, the figure could hit around 286 MW, with Guyana Power and Light projecting a surge to 1,575 MW by 2030. The utility’s customer count reached 244,124 last year, and GPL expects that number to potentially exceed 305,800 by decade’s end. 4
Peak demand marks the grid’s biggest test—its highest point of required power at any moment. GPL is pointing to fresh housing developments, ramped-up consumption among current customers, expanded commercial demand, and new industrial loads as the main drivers behind the surge. For Kesh Nandlall, who heads the utility’s executive management committee, the latest numbers highlight the “scale and pace of growth” now hitting the sector. 4
GPL says it has locked in over 1,600 MW of firm generation for development by 2030, plus more than 100 MW of solar paired with battery storage. Last month, the government kicked off a competitive process tied to the 165-MW Amaila Falls hydropower project, another key piece in the country’s planned power expansion. 4
Regional politics may end up playing a big part in the economics. Back in February, Suriname and Guyana agreed to set up a joint technical team to look at possible cross-border gas projects. Suriname’s oil minister Patrick Brunings told reporters that merging the two countries’ volumes “might be more attractive” to potential investors. He also named companies like TotalEnergies, Chevron, and APA as possible parties that could be brought into those conversations. 5
Guyana’s oil base keeps growing as the gas drive accelerates. In February, offshore production averaged roughly 918,000 barrels a day—the highest monthly figure so far, government numbers cited by OilNOW show. Earlier this month, Reuters reported Exxon is looking for Guyana’s total capacity to climb to around 1.7 million bpd by 2030. Exxon holds a 45% operating stake in the Stabroek Block, with partners Hess—now under Chevron—and CNOOC. 6
Still, risks remain. Reuters noted on March 19 that the $1 billion gas pipeline to Wales has been finished, but it isn’t up and running yet. At a regulatory review on March 27, GPL admitted it missed six out of eight 2025 service targets—blaming labor shortages, network interference, and feeder trips. If industrial demand falters or permits get delayed, Berbice faces even steeper challenges. For now, the grid needs to keep pace with a surge in load. 7
Exxon’s message is clear: no buyers, no rush. “We’ll be ready when the market is ready,” Routledge told reporters. That sums up the challenge ahead for Guyana’s gas plans—converting its offshore reserves into real demand on land, whether that’s for energy, industry, or anything that can anchor investment. 8
