Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips says Guyana is developing a dedicated emergency response plan for the Gas-to-Energy project, as the country moves to protect communities and critical energy infrastructure amid rapid growth in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the launch of the 14th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM14) at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre on Tuesday, Phillips said the government is strengthening disaster preparedness to keep pace with the country's expanding energy industry.
The Gas-to-Energy project, one of Guyana’s largest energy investments, is expected to lower electricity costs and support economic growth. But with major energy infrastructure being developed, the Prime Minister said planning for emergencies is essential to safeguard both the facilities and the people who live and work nearby.
“Guyana continues to strengthen its disaster risk management framework to support the country’s rapidly expanding economy and growing energy sector… a gas-to-energy emergency response contingency plan is in development,” Phillips told the conference.
He noted that as Guyana builds new energy facilities and critical infrastructure, the responsibility to protect those assets and surrounding communities becomes even more important.
The new contingency plan forms part of a broader effort by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to improve the country's readiness for both natural disasters and industrial emergencies linked to the energy sector.
Among the measures being advanced are the implementation of the Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility Act, work on a modernised Disaster Risk Management Bill, and the expansion of early warning systems using satellite technology, geographic information systems (GIS), and other advanced communications tools.
The announcement comes as Guyana continues to see significant growth from its oil and gas industry, with major projects such as the Gas-to-Energy development expected to play a key role in transforming the country's energy landscape.
The launch event was jointly hosted by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the CDC as Guyana prepares to host CDM14 from December 7 to 12, 2026. The conference will focus on strengthening resilience, reducing disaster risks, and ensuring that communities can safely benefit from development across key sectors, including energy.
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