Even as the government faces pushback for its much-touted gas-to-shore project, the administration is moving full speed ahead with the project which it has dubbed the single most important project to Guyana’s development.
During his contribution to the Petroleum Exploration and Production (Amendment) Bill in the National Assembly today, Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat said the project will bring many benefits to Guyanese.
He said the cost of power generation remains a problem in Guyana and is the biggest hinderance to development.
Bharrat said Guyana is producing energy at a relatively high cost and the gas-to-shore project will see the cost to produce energy being slashed by 50% allowing Guyanese to pay cheaper for electricity.
“Mr. Speaker, besides reduction in energy cost and in our light bills as we would commonly say, the gas-to-energy project will reduce the power outages that we have been experiencing over a number of years,” Bharrat told the house.
Minister Bharrat said it is important that the project is realized in the shortest possible time. He asked for the Opposition’s full support on the project.
“Mr. Speaker it is no secret, that with the reduction of power, cost of living in Guyana would reduce significantly and this is something we have been grappling with for years and more so during a global pandemic,” Bharrat said.
But while the government maintains that its project is beneficial to Guyanese, Opposition Member of Parliament Shurwayne Holder said the gas-to shore project is shrouded in secrecy and reeks of corruption. He called for more transparency.
“Mr. Speaker this project, if not carefully managed has the potential to become the largest white elephant in this hemisphere. The government is not being truthful when it comes to the financial and economic impact when it comes to this project,” Holder said.
Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh said the Opposition’s support for the bill will be critical and it will demonstrate the political will to develop the country from all sides.
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