By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
The Wales Gas-to-Energy Project, once hailed as a major step toward reducing Guyana’s electricity costs, is now facing renewed scrutiny as both Petroleum Engineer and former EPA Director Dr. Vincent Adams and Chairman of Lindsayca, Nelson Drake, point to serious management and planning failures behind its repeated delays.
Speaking at the International Business Conference held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Drake revealed that US$100 million was spent to stabilize the “unstable soil” at the West Bank Demerara site, resulting in significant construction delays. Despite over 89% of engineering and 90.46% of procurement being completed, only 23% of construction work has been done.
Drake explained that the site presented complex challenges due to liquefaction and a rare mix of sands, making it unsuitable for heavy industrial works. He warned that the gas-processing facility “could easily become a bomb at any time if it’s not done properly,” stressing the need for perfect alignment of the turbines and power island.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vincent Adams said the project’s persistent setbacks stem from the absence of a feasibility study and a lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Calling the situation “sheer lawlessness,” Adams noted that ExxonMobil’s EIA for the gas pipeline had clearly stated that a separate study was required for the gas plant—something the government disregarded.
He also criticized the administration’s claim that the U.S. EXIM Bank had conducted both a feasibility study and an EIA, saying the project is “falling apart due to poor project management.”
Adams stressed that the government must adopt proper monitoring tools such as the Earned Value Management System (EVMS) — an internationally recognized framework for measuring project progress and accountability — if it hopes to complete the project safely and effectively.
