By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
Economist Elson Low Criticizes Government Over $100M Cost at Wales GTE Site
The Gas-to-Energy Project at Wales, long touted by the Irfaan Ali administration as a “game changer,” is facing renewed scrutiny—this time from economist Elson Low, who blasted the government for what he calls poor site planning and political decision-making.
Low’s criticism follows revelations that the project’s main contractor spent over US$100 million on soil stabilization after discovering that the Wales site could not support the weight of key infrastructure, including the massive turbines needed to power the project.
He argued that the failure to properly assess the soil before construction represents an “egregious” oversight, particularly since the site was earmarked for broader industrial development. Low also alleged that the government chose the location for political reasons—to reward its support base in Region 3—rather than on technical or economic merit.
The economist cautioned that the additional cost and 14-month delay have now pushed the project’s possible completion to late 2026, and warned that continued construction could impose even heavier financial burdens on taxpayers.
Low urged the government to reconsider its plans for Wales, proposing that the unstable land instead be repurposed for solar power generation—a move he says would deliver sustainable jobs and long-term energy benefits without the risk of costly overruns.
