Guyanese have no details on Guyana’s largest infrastructural project ever, the Wales Gas to Shore Project. During the recent Consideration of the Estimates of Expenditures for 2023, questions put to Prime Minister Mark Phillips, leader of government business in the National Assembly, served to show a great reluctance in divulging any information on the project either as queries on the Final Investment Decision (FID) release for public scrutiny were met with stonewalling. It was not a good day for a government that espouses the democratic values of transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Former Minister of Public Infrastructure (now Public Works) in a recent Letter to the Editor has added his voice to the discussion, stating that. “The details surrounding the Wales Gas to Shore project are shrouded in mystery. Patterson said, “The reasoning for the selection of the current location has yet to be disclosed, the final project costs have yet to be publicly disclosed, even more worrying we are now informed that Exxon is yet to make a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the project, the final tariff to consumers for any electricity procured is still unknown, the full technical details including the proposed connection to our fragile transmission and distribution network are unclear, the role of the newly formed Guyana Power and Gas Inc. is unknown.”
Patterson, a Member of Parliament, added, “Only a select few are aware of the full details of what will be the largest ever infrastructure project ever undertaken in Guyana. Surely that’s an unacceptable state for any country – and worse for one of the fastest growing economies where the One Guyana propaganda creates the impression that the citizens are included in the plans for their future.”
Additionally, the government in an about-face-turn appears to be suggesting that the piped gas will no longer be free, according to Patterson. “The disclosure that Exxon will be selling 50 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to the government is a startling revelation and contrary to the PPP’s previous public commitment regarding the financing and feasibility of the Wales Gas to Shore project”, Patterson stated.
