Berbice gas pipeline could cost about US$2 billion; mega projects needed

A second Gas-to-Energy project is being pursued in Berbice, and the pipeline to bring the natural gas onshore could cost about US$2 billion, ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge estimates.

Routledge told reporters that there are vast gas reserves offshore, with the company seeing the Haimara development as the anchor for the second gas project. To bring that gas onshore, however, the company wants concrete projects to fuel.

“We can see real interest in building a domestic gas market, which, in the early stages, will require us to have some anchor projects. These are projects large enough to give us the demand, from an offshore gas supply point of view, to make it worthwhile investing in significant infrastructure,” Routledge said at a press conference at the company’s Ogle headquarters.

Routledge disclosed that there is significant interest from foreign companies seeking to invest in the mega projects needed at Berbice to make the GtE venture viable. Data centres, power generation facilities, and bauxite-to-alumina plants are among the proposals received by the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil.

But the company president reasoned that there must be concrete investments before ExxonMobil spends about US$2 billion for the new pipeline. About US$1 billion was spent on the pipeline for the first GtE project at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

Still, Routledge emphasised that ExxonMobil is eager to move ahead with gas plans.

“We’ll be ready when the market is ready,” he said.

In February, at the 2026 Guyana Energy Conference, Routledge said ExxonMobil is expected to seek environmental authorisation for a second gas-to-energy project soon.

Guyana has become a global oil hotspot, with an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the giant Stabroek Block offshore. Although several oil projects are underway, recent appraisal work has shown that there are substantial natural gas resources as well. Already, gas will be supplied to the mega energy project at Wales, West Bank, Demerara, which will then generate power.

The Ali-led administration has been aggressively pushing this project, as it will provide cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy to Guyana— remedying some of the issues the country has long been beset by. Already, though, the President is keen about a second gas project in the ancient county of Berbice. He wants to partner with neighbouring Suriname on this venture.

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