Execution Speed and Scale Matter More Than Ever

Few countries have matched Guyana’s execution pace. ExxonMobil and its partners have brought multiple offshore projects into production in record time – from Liza Phases 1 and 2 to Payara and, most recently, Yellowtail, which began production in August 2025. The addition of Yellowtail has pushed Guyana’s total installed production capacity beyond 900,000 barrels per day. The next wave is already underway, with Uaru and Whiptail scheduled to come online by 2026 and 2027, respectively, and later developments such as Hammerhead and Longtail expected before the decade’s end.

This speed has been achieved through a blend of technical capability, operational discipline and policy alignment. For investors, access to reserves means little without a government and operator capable of translating discoveries into production quickly. Guyana’s example shows that with the right regulatory clarity and execution ecosystem, first oil can be achieved years ahead of traditional timelines.

Local Content Builds Stability – Not Just Compliance

One of Guyana’s defining features is how rapidly it has embedded local participation into its oil value chain. The Yellowtail project was delivered ahead of schedule with more than two-thirds of its workforce being Guyanese, and over 2,000 local businesses now hold active contracts within the supply chain. Major service providers, including Baker Hughes, have expanded local operations to support ongoing FPSO activity, further strengthening the domestic oil services ecosystem.

This approach has paid off. Beyond satisfying regulatory targets, Guyana’s local content model has enhanced project efficiency, lowered operational risk and built strong community relations for the sector. For investors, this underscores local participation as a strategic advantage. Markets that cultivate local suppliers and workforce capacity tend to experience fewer project delays, stronger community backing and more sustainable growth.

Balancing Oil Expansion with a Gas Strategy

While oil has dominated its energy landscape, Guyana is also laying the groundwork for a more diversified energy future. Its Gas-to-Energy project, centered at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, will transport associated gas from the offshore Stabroek Block’s Liza field, providing a stable domestic energy supply and lowering power generation costs. Upcoming projects such as Hammerhead and Longtail include significant gas content, positioning Guyana to eventually diversify into regional gas export or industrial use.

This dual-track approach – pursuing oil-led growth while advancing gas monetization – is increasingly appealing to investors navigating the global energy transition. Guyana’s model demonstrates that upstream expansion and decarbonization goals are not mutually exclusive. By leveraging gas for domestic development and energy access, the country enhances both its ESG credentials and long-term investment appeal, offering lessons for other emerging producers seeking to balance profitability with sustainability.

Regulatory Certainty and Alignment Drive Confidence

Underlying Guyana’s success is a rare degree of policy stability and alignment between the government and its private-sector partners. The Stabroek Block consortium – led by ExxonMobil, with Hess (now part of Chevron) and CNOOC – operates under a regulatory framework that has remained predictable throughout the country’s rapid growth phase. Field development plans are approved efficiently, environmental reviews are conducted transparently and fiscal terms have remained consistent even as oil prices and global market dynamics fluctuate.

For investors, this kind of governance reduces non-technical risk and enables long-term planning in a capital-intensive sector. Guyana’s example shows that even in deepwater, high-risk environments, stable rules of engagement can attract continuous investment and foster trust between state and operator, leading to accelerated project execution, rapid resource monetization and a virtuous cycle of reinvestment across the value chain.