A United States-based company, Curlew Mid-stream, has sealed a refined fuels venture with Guyana, aiming to enhance the country’s energy security and affordability while also potentially serving northern Brazil and the wider region.
President Irfaan Ali announced the agreement yesterday during the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo at the Marriott Hotel, emphasising the importance of infrastructure development in driving national growth. The initiative aligns with Guyana’s broader energy expansion plans, including a proposed 30,000-barrel oil refinery and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dominican Republic for a 50,000-barrel refinery.
It is unclear whether Guyana tendered for this project or this had been arranged at the initiative of Curlew.
The Curlew Midstream project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art local fuel storage facility capable of holding 750,000 barrels of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and heavy fuel oil. Once operational, the facility is expected to supply 100% of Guyana’s domestic refined fuel needs while enabling exports to CARICOM nations.
According to a release from Curlew Midstream, this agreement will facilitate the importation of US-refined fuels for local storage and distribution, leading to price-advantaged trading that could significantly reduce wholesale and retail fuel prices in Guyana. These reductions are expected to lower transportation costs for goods by air, road, and river, as well as decrease electricity production costs for businesses and households.
The initial investment for the project is estimated at US$300 million, reinforcing Guyana’s strategic push toward energy independence. President Ali underscored the venture’s role in strengthening the country’s economic foundation, noting that infrastructure is a key driver of development alongside education, healthcare, tourism, and the oil and gas sector.
Curlew Midstream, headquartered in Benton-ville, Arkansas, specializes in energy infrastructure and hydrocarbon transportation. The company operates terminal facilities in South Louisiana and is now positioning itself as a key partner in Guyana’s energy landscape.
