Guyana’s New Diesel Breakthrough Just Shocked Everyone!

Guyana pumps more than 900,000 barrels of crude oil a day and passed its one billionth barrel in 2026, yet every single litre of diesel and gasoline it uses still arrives by ship. On the west bank of the Demerara River, a finished ExxonMobil pipeline now sits full of nitrogen, waiting to deliver gas that, on paper, Guyana gets for free. In this video, we look at how Guyana is trying to break its dependence on imported fuel. We follow three roads at once: a 300-megawatt gas power plant at Wales built around Swedish-made Siemens turbines, solar farms and small hydro stations replacing diesel generators in towns like Lethem and Bartica, and a fierce debate over whether Guyana should refine and store its own diesel. Along the way: Amaila Falls, the Petrotrin shutdown, the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, and what all of this means for power bills across the Caribbean, including Jamaica. Sources: Industrial Info Resources – Guyana targets 1.46 million b/d offshore capacity by 2029 (Oct 22, 2026) ExxonMobil Guyana Newsroom – One billion barrels: Guyana’s remarkable journey continues (2026) The Rio Times – Guyana puts a refinery at the heart of its national oil company plans (Aug 28, 2026) OilNOW – Guyana weighs refinery, national oil company as part of long-term fuel security thinking (Aug 2026) Department of Public Information, Guyana – Refinery key to Guyana’s national oil company plans (2026) Department of Public Information, Guyana – Guyana to revisit oil refinery establishment as global tensions rise (Mar 2026) OilNOW – Oil refinery could give Guyana greater control over supply shocks (Mar 2026) Guyana Chronicle – The West Asian conflict underscores why Guyana must prioritise building its own oil refinery (2026) The Rio Times – Guyana gas-to-energy plant targets December first fire at Wales (Sep 23, 2026) Guyana Times – Siemens Energy gears up for operation of 300MW power plant (Sep 2026) Caribbean Today – Guyana’s government hopes first gas turbine to be commissioned this year (2026) Department of Public Information, Guyana – Wales Gas-to-Energy project advancing rapidly (May 14, 2026) Guyana Chronicle – Wales gas-to-energy project takes shape as works continue (Sep 11, 2026) Kaieteur News – Gas-to-Energy transmission network reaches 99% completion (Jul 8, 2026) Guyana Chronicle – EPA maintains Wales power plant decision followed legal process (Oct 15, 2026) Global Energy Monitor – Wales power station OilNOW – Understanding Guyana’s “free gas” arrangement with ExxonMobil OilNOW – “Gas is free, pipeline to be paid for from cost oil” – VP confirms OilNOW – Gov’t to pay Exxon US$55M each year to recover cost for gas pipeline OilNOW – Gas-to-Energy power plant to start operations by November 1 (2025) OilNOW – High oil price wolfing down Guyana’s electricity budget (2022) Guyana Chronicle – GPL considers additional generation capacity as demand hits 255MW (Sep 21, 2026) HGPTV – More power, same blackout risk? GPL says grid needs major upgrade (Sep 2026) Stabroek News – GPL signs US$31.36M agreement to reduce generation costs (2008) Renewable Energy World – Guyana nixes plans for 165-MW Amaila Falls hydropower project Energía Estratégica – Guyana reveals renewable roadmap focused on hydro and solar (2026) Caribbean Today – Multi-million dollar hydropower project to be built by Chinese company Stabroek News – Study projects cost of oil refinery at US$5B (2018) Argus Media – Guyanese refinery not off the table: Minister (Feb 2025) Argus Media – Guyana cautiously weighing refinery proposals (Dec 2021) NS Energy – Trinidad and Tobago in talks over Petrotrin refinery sale Argus Media – Caribbean aspires to reinvent downstream relics (Jul 2021) Caribbean Today – Guyana still in discussions with Curlew Midstream despite court battle (2026) Caribbean Today – Guyana has yet to sign agreement with US-based company, says Jagdeo (2025) Guyana Energy Agency – Hybridised energy supply in Region 9 cuts diesel use (Aug 3, 2026) OilNOW – Lethem hybrid energy project cut diesel use by more than 20,000 barrels (2026) Guyana Chronicle – 25 per cent cut in electricity rates for Bartica to begin in July (Jun 2, 2026) NCN Guyana – Mahdia 0.65 MW solar farm commissioned (Dec 2024) Demerara Waves – Some fuel arrive in Guyana, more expected (Apr 13, 2026) MarketScreener – Guyana faces mass fuel shortage due to Iran situation (Mar 2026) Wikipedia – 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis News Room Guyana – Budget 2026: Fuel relief, freight reductions and cost-of-living support (Jan 26, 2026) If you enjoy stories about the inventions, energy and infrastructure changing life in the Caribbean, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next one. #Caribbean #Jamaica #Guyana #Innovation #CleanEnergy #Diesel #GasToEnergy #OilAndGas #Energy #Trinidad