Download logoGuyana and Jamaica's decision to establish a joint energy working group marks the latest step toward a more integrated Caribbean energy market, as the region's fastest-growing oil producer expands cooperation beyond upstream investment to include infrastructure, finance and energy security. Signed in June 2026, the four bilateral agreements commit both governments to deeper collaboration across key sectors while establishing a dedicated platform to advance energy cooperation through knowledge exchange, infrastructure development and initiatives that strengthen regional energy security. The agreements come as Guyana prepares to increase crude oil production to 1.3 million barrels per day by 2027 and 1.7 million bpd by 2030, positioning regional partnerships alongside upstream investment as a key driver of its next phase of growth.
The Jamaica agreements build on a broader strategy of regional integration already taking shape across the Caribbean. In May 2026, Guyana and the Dominican Republic signed a contract for the exploration, development and eventual production of oil and gas in the Berbice Block, formalizing a strategic energy partnership first outlined in a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding. As part of the agreement, Dominican state-owned refinery Refinería Dominicana de Petróleo secured a 10% participating interest in the block, while both governments committed to expanding cooperation in refining, petrochemicals and regional energy security. The deal marks one of the Caribbean's most significant cross-border upstream partnerships to date, extending collaboration beyond crude production into downstream industrial development.
The push for greater regional integration is also gaining traction among the Caribbean's leading hydrocarbon producers. In February 2026, Trinidad and Tobago Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal called for deeper collaboration with Guyana and Suriname, proposing greater coordination among the region's energy ministers to advance shared priorities across upstream development, natural gas commercialization and energy infrastructure. Discussions highlighted opportunities to leverage Guyana's rapidly expanding production alongside Trinidad and Tobago's established LNG, refining and petrochemical capabilities, reinforcing the case for a more connected regional energy market.
Beyond the Caribbean, Guyana is reinforcing the international partnerships underpinning its energy expansion. In March 2025, Guyana and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding on security cooperation during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit, strengthening collaboration to safeguard critical infrastructure and reinforce investor confidence in the country's rapidly expanding offshore sector. Canada has also expanded its engagement through the extension of the Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement through 2033 and the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding between Guyana's Ministry of Finance and the Canadian Commercial Corporation, creating additional pathways for Canadian participation in infrastructure, industrial and energy development.
These agreements signal a strategic evolution in Guyana's energy ambitions. While international oil companies continue to unlock world-class offshore resources, government-to-government partnerships are creating the policy alignment, commercial relationships and infrastructure needed to support long-term regional growth. Rather than viewing oil and gas development through a national lens, Caribbean governments are increasingly positioning the region as a connected investment destination capable of competing for global capital across the full hydrocarbon value chain.
The role of regional partnerships in shaping the Caribbean's next phase of energy growth will be a central focus at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme "Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub." Bringing together governments, national oil companies, international operators, financiers and investors, the conference will examine how regional partnerships are accelerating cross-border investment, strengthening energy security and creating new commercial opportunities across the Caribbean's upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.
Ahead of the conference, an in-country launch in Guyana in September 2026 will convene regional governments, investors and industry leaders to explore the policies, partnerships and investment strategies driving the Caribbean's emergence as one of the world's fastest-growing energy markets.
Caribbean Energy Week 2027 will host its in-country launch at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on September 1, 2026, bringing together government officials, investors, operators and industry stakeholders for an early look at the opportunities, priorities and partnerships that will shape the region’s energy future. To register, please visit https://apo-opa.co/4buJqmw
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
