Qatar is looking to expand its footprint in Guyana’s offshore oil sector,with President Irfaan Ali saying the Gulf state is interested in additionalopportunities beyond its existing position in the country.
Ali made the disclosure in an interview with Kiana Wilburg of StartingPoint/In-House Media, following his recent visit to Qatar.
“They are also deeply interested in mining and, of course, in looking at moreopportunities in the offshore block,” Ali said.
“They're already part of a partnership, but they're looking to seeadditional opportunities in those offshore blocks.”
QatarEnergy currently holds a 35% interest in shallow-water Block S4, whereit is partnered with TotalEnergies and PETRONAS. TotalEnergies is the operatorwith a 40% stake, while PETRONAS holds the remaining 25%.
The Production Sharing Agreement for Block S4 was signed in November 2025following Guyana’s 2022 licensing round. The block covers about 1,788 squarekilometres and lies between 50 and 100 kilometres offshore, in water depths of30 to 100 metres.
The consortium has since moved into seismic exploration. Natural ResourcesMinister Vickram Bharrat said in July that seismic surveys were alreadyunderway on the block.
Ali’s comments suggest Qatar’s interest in Guyana’s petroleum sector couldextend beyond that existing investment as the country prepares for furtheroffshore exploration.
Guyana has been expanding petroleum activity outside the prolific StabroekBlock, with the government advancing new exploration agreements following itsinaugural licensing round.
For Qatar, the interest also fits into QatarEnergy’s broader internationalupstream strategy. The state-owned energy company has been expanding itsexploration and production portfolio across multiple international basins,including in the Americas, Africa and the Middle East. Its currentinternational portfolio lists its 35% interest in S4 as an upstream asset inGuyana.
Ali said Qatar’s potential role in Guyana extends beyond oil exploration,pointing to possible cooperation in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, foodsecurity, hospitality and other areas.
He also said Qatar has signalled interest in participating in thedevelopment of a proposed deepwater port, as well as infrastructure and energyprojects.
“Qatar is ready and willing to partner with us on our transformativejourney,” Ali said.
The President said Guyana and Qatar would work on a framework to identifypriority projects for potential investment and partnerships.
While Qatar’s interest in additional offshore blocks does not meancommercial oil discoveries have been made in those areas, it adds another majorinternational energy company to the list of investors seeking opportunities inGuyana’s wider offshore basin.
QatarEnergy’s existing S4 position also gives it an active foothold inGuyana’s emerging exploration sector, with the outcome of the ongoing seismicprogramme expected to help determine the block’s future prospectivity.
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