By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The 5th Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo continued to buzz on its third day at the Marriott Hotel, with the spotlight shifting toward the diverse array of companies providing the backbone of Guyana’s energy infrastructure. From massive onshore support hubs to innovative Turkish power solutions, the exhibition floor has become a vibrant marketplace for global partnerships and local capacity building.
With over 200 exhibitors and a projected 10,000 attendees, the 2026 expo is being hailed as the most successful to date, demonstrating that Guyana’s energy story is now a multi-sectoral economic engine.
Onshore Powerhouses: The GYSBI Model
Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI), the preferred onshore support hub for the country’s major oil operators, showcased the sheer scale of its integrated services.
- Unified Support: Under the GYSBI banner, companies like Muneshwer Shipping, Harbor Tugs Guyana, and Paragon Transport provide a seamless logistics chain—from customs brokerage and commercial shipping to heavy transport.
- Local Dominance: Public Relations Manager Gomattie Gangadin emphasized that GYSBI remains the largest shore-base provider in the country, playing a vital role in ensuring that offshore operations are supported by a robust, Guyanese-led land operation.
Knowledge Transfer: Expro’s Nationalization Success
Global energy services firm Expro used the expo to highlight its commitment to the Guyanese workforce, focusing on safety, data, and performance in well solutions.
- Nationalization Rate: Expro currently maintains a total headcount of 112 in-country, with a striking 67% nationalization rate.
- The Goal: The company emphasized that their strategy centers on knowledge transfer, ensuring that Guyanese are not just employees but are being given the high-level technical opportunities to lead in the field.
Interim Solutions: Karpowership’s Natural Gas Proposal
Turkish energy giant Karpowership presented a strategic interim plan to address Guyana’s immediate electricity needs.
- The Proposal: The company outlined a plan to utilize natural gas from the Stabroek Block for electricity generation via their floating power ships.
- The Timeline: This “plug-and-play” solution is designed to bridge the gap until the Wales Gas-to-Energy Project is fully completed and operational, providing a stable and cleaner alternative to heavy fuel oil in the short term.
Fostering MSMEs and International Trade
The expo isn’t just for the “big oil” players; it has become a critical launchpad for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and cross-border trade organizations.
- Canada-Guyana Trade: Business support organizations representing both Guyana and Canada reported a massive surge in interest.
- Trade Missions: Representatives noted that they have already facilitated over 50 trade missions, resulting in “massive deals” being signed across the Guyana-Suriname-Trinidad energy corridor.
- Capacity Building: These organizations provide a community for small businesses to understand international requirements and identify joint-venture opportunities with foreign firms looking to enter the local market.
Heavy Machinery and Construction
The physical transformation of Guyana was evident in the heavy-duty machinery and construction booths. These entities are providing the physical tools—from excavators to specialized drilling rigs—necessary for the rapid infrastructure buildup currently sweeping the country.
“The energy conference is where this all kicked off… we’re seeing big massive deals being signed across Suriname, Guyana, and just recently with the involvement of Trinidad as well,” a business representative shared during the expo.
