Guyana pushes ahead with deepwater port as feasibility work continues
Guyana Times reported that President Ali has held talks with possible investors, including Qatari investment, and plans to meet them once the feasibility study is done.
Guyana is moving ahead on a deepwater port that would link the country to northern Brazil and the wider region, Guyana Times reported on 27 October 2026. The paper said work is still going on to finish the feasibility studies. That includes early checks of possible sites, before the project moves to full design.
The port is planned for Berbice, The Maritime Executive reported. It estimated the cost at US$1–2 billion. The plan also includes an industrial hub with data centres, a fertiliser plant and a refinery.
The Maritime Executive said Georgetown, Guyana's main port, has a shallow channel. Its maximum allowable draft is about 9.7 metres. The outlet gave this as the reason a deepwater port would help.
The idea is more than ten years old, according to The Maritime Executive. A 2016 report by the Inter-American Development Bank made the case for linking northern Brazil to the Atlantic coast. The current feasibility study is meant to update that report.
Bechtel, a US engineering firm, has led the early design work, The Maritime Executive reported. It finished the pre-front-end engineering design in 2023. The feasibility study is still not complete. The Department of Public Information said Bechtel is working with the government on the deepwater port.
Guyana Times reported that President Ali said the Government would work with development partners to complete the deepwater port studies without Chevron's support. The Maritime Executive said Chevron inherited a 30% stake in the Stabroek Block through its Hess acquisition. The block is Guyana's prized offshore oil and gas resource. The outlet said Hess had paid for the earlier port engineering work. Chevron declined to fund the rest of the feasibility study.
The Maritime Executive said the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM) has promised to pay for the engineering design work known as phase three. The pledge came after President Ali met EXIM's chairman in New York.
President Ali said talks have already been held with interested parties, including Qatari investment. HGPTV reported on 26 October 2026 that the Government is also talking with possible investors. They include US EXIM and the Qatar Investment Authority.
Guyana Times reported that President Ali plans to meet all possible investors, especially the large ones. The meeting will come once the feasibility study is finished. He said that should be done by December.
The story was first reported by Guyana Times.