If you haven't looked at a map of South America lately, you might've missed that Guyana is basically becoming the Dubai of the West, but with way more jungle. Honestly, the pace of change here is a little bit terrifying. Just this week, the headlines are screaming about production numbers that sound like typos.
We are talking about 900,000 barrels of oil every single day.
That is the latest news in Guyana that actually matters. It isn't just a big number on a spreadsheet for ExxonMobil; it's a massive shift in the global energy balance. And while the oil is flowing, there’s a whole lot of drama happening on the ground with infrastructure, politics, and a neighbor that just won't back down.
The Oil Reality: Beyond the 900,000 Barrel Mark
So, here is the deal. ExxonMobil Guyana and their partners, Hess and CNOOC, just hit that 900,000 barrel-per-day (bopd) milestone. They did it because the fourth offshore project, Yellowtail (using the ONE GUYANA FPSO), finally ramped up to its full capacity of 250,000 barrels.
You've gotta realize how fast this is happening. In 2019, Guyana was producing zero oil. Now, they're looking at 1.7 million barrels per day by the time the eighth project, Longtail, gets the green light.
- Liza Phase 1 & 2: Still the reliable workhorses of the Stabroek Block.
- Payara: Doing its thing, keeping the cash flowing.
- Yellowtail: The new kid on the block that just pushed them over the edge.
- Uaru: This one is next. It's scheduled to start up later in 2026.
People keep asking: "Where is all that money going?"
Well, it's complicated. The Natural Resource Fund has already swallowed over $7.8 billion. But if you walk through the streets of Georgetown, you'll see it in the dust. The construction is everywhere.
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The Border Drama: What the Maduro Capture Changes
You can't talk about latest news in Guyana without mentioning the elephant in the room—Venezuela.
On January 3, 2026, the world woke up to the news that U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro in a nighttime raid. He’s currently in New York facing narcotrafficking charges. This is huge for Guyana because Maduro spent the last few years threatening to annex the Essequibo region—basically two-thirds of Guyana’s land.
Basically, the immediate threat of an invasion has cooled off. Analysts like Gavin from Verisk are saying the dispute is "on ice" for now. With the U.S. military basically sitting in Caracas helping with a transition, Guyana can finally breathe. But don't think for a second the claim is gone. Any future Venezuelan government will probably still want that oil-rich territory. It’s a "wait and see" situation, but for the Guyanese people, the relief is palpable.
Infrastructure: The US$260 Million Bridge and the Gas-to-Energy Race
If you've ever been stuck in traffic on the old floating Demerara Harbour Bridge, you know it was a nightmare. Good news: the new one is here.
President Irfaan Ali just commissioned the new US$260 million Demerara River Bridge. It’s a four-lane, cable-stayed beast built by China Railway Construction Corporation. It's designed to last 100 years. No more waiting for the "retractor span" to open for ships while thousands of cars bake in the sun.
Then there's the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project at Wales. This is arguably more important for the average person than the oil exports.
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Why? Because Guyana has some of the highest electricity costs in the world.
The GTE project is supposed to cut those bills in half. Right now, it’s about 70% done. Prime Minister Mark Phillips just did a site visit and confirmed that all four gas turbines are on their foundations. They’re aiming for a late 2026 completion. They’ve got 600 people working on it right now, and that's going to jump to 1,600 by the summer.
What's happening at the Wales site:
- Turbines: All four SGT-800 gas turbines are sitting on their concrete bases.
- Piling: They’ve driven 6,400 piles into the ground out of a planned 9,300.
- Pipeline: Exxon already finished the offshore part. The gas is basically waiting at the shore for the plant to be ready.
The Economy: Is 24% Growth Sustainable?
The World Bank is projecting Guyana’s economy will grow by 22.4% this year and another 24% in 2027. To put that in perspective, most "healthy" countries are happy with 2 or 3 percent.
But it isn't all sunshine.
There's a serious "Dutch Disease" worry here. That's when one sector (oil) gets so big it kills off everything else like farming or manufacturing. The government says they’re "shock-proofing" the economy by investing in agriculture, but if you look at the labor market, everyone wants to work in oil.
Finding a plumber or a carpenter in Georgetown right now is like finding a needle in a haystack. They're all working offshore or on the new highways.
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Politics and Legal Battles
It hasn't been a quiet week in the courts either.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall is currently sounding the alarm about magistrates' courts ignoring new laws passed by Parliament. It sounds technical, but it’s basically a breakdown in how the legal system is handling the country's rapid modernization.
And then there's the defamation case. The High Court just ordered the Department of Public Information and the AG to pay GY$10 million to Vincent Alexander over some remarks made by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. It just goes to show that even with billions of dollars on the line, the local political beefs are as alive as ever.
What You Should Actually Do With This Information
If you're looking at Guyana as an investor, a traveler, or just a curious observer, here's the reality:
- Watch the Gas-to-Energy deadline. If they miss the late 2026 window, electricity prices stay high, and the manufacturing boom stays on hold.
- Keep an eye on the labor shortage. If you're a skilled professional, Guyana is basically the land of opportunity right now, but the cost of living in Georgetown is skyrocketing.
- Don't ignore the non-oil sectors. The government is pushing hard on "expedition cruises" and agriculture. Those are the long-term plays.
- Stay updated on the Venezuela transition. The capture of Maduro changed the risk profile overnight. It’s much safer for foreign investment today than it was in December.
Guyana is a place where you can literally see the future being built in real-time. It's messy, it's loud, and it's incredibly fast. Just make sure you're looking past the big oil numbers to see the actual bricks and mortar being laid down.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
- Monitor the Bank of Guyana quarterly reports to see how the Natural Resource Fund is being allocated toward the 2026 National Budget.
- Track the progress of the Uaru project (the 5th FPSO), as its arrival will be the next major trigger for a GDP spike.
- Follow the Ministry of Public Works updates on the Aubrey Barker road expansion, which is the next major traffic "pressure valve" set to open this month.