Guyana has announced plans to construct its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center in Berbice, a move seen as a major step forward in the country’s technological and energy landscape.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali revealed the news during a public meeting in New Amsterdam on April 12, emphasizing that the data center will be powered by energy derived from Guyana’s upcoming second natural gas development. This facility represents a strategic blend of digital infrastructure and clean energy, poised to drive national innovation and economic expansion.
Dr. Ashni Singh, a senior government official, had earlier announced that the second natural gas pipeline would land in Berbice, laying the foundation for this and other transformative projects in the region. According to President Ali, the AI center is a direct offshoot of the Berbice gas initiative, designed to supply consistent, abundant power to support the country’s growing digital ambitions.
“This is where we’re going to bring power on stream to have the AI data center built in Region Six,” Ali stated, highlighting that the facility is expected to synergize with other major developments, including a $285 million port project and Guyana’s first deepwater port. These investments are being led by the joint venture Cranes Guyana Inc., formed by Muneshwers Ltd. and John Fernandes Ltd.
“This is the future we are building — a future where smart infrastructure, technology, and energy converge to create opportunities for every Guyanese,” President Ali emphasized.
The rising demand for artificial intelligence technology globally underscores the importance of this move. At the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo in February, Aly Orady, Founder and CTO of Tonal, noted the high energy requirements of AI infrastructure. “AI is a very energy-hungry technology. The energy consumption of data centers hosting AI is expected to increase tenfold over the next five years,” Orady said. He pointed out that such facilities can consume between 50 and 100 megawatts of energy daily, giving energy-rich economies like Guyana a competitive edge in the AI race.
Guyana has already made significant progress in its energy sector. The country’s first Gas-to-Energy project has completed pipeline construction and will soon deliver 120 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Liza field. That gas will be processed at a state-of-the-art facility in Wales, West Bank Demerara, featuring a 300-megawatt power plant and a natural gas liquids (NGL) unit.
These developments come as Guyana rapidly cements its position as a global energy powerhouse. ExxonMobil has announced plans to increase oil production in the prolific Stabroek Block to 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, further underscoring the country’s momentum in the global energy sector.
SOURCE: Oil Now (Guyana)