Guyana has announced its readiness to supply up to 20% of India's crude oil needs as a key energy supplier. This news was presented by Daram Kumar Siraj, the High Commissioner of Guyana in New Delhi, clearly demonstrating the country's determination to play an effective role in supplying India's energy needs.
Guyana's Oil Reserves
Siraj referred to the vast oil reserves of the country and stated: "We have the best crude oil in the world. Currently, our proven reserves are approximately 12 billion barrels. We can collaborate as a strategic partner with India. India has refining capacity and consumption power, consuming approximately five million barrels per day. We can supply about 20% of this amount in the future."
Development of Energy Cooperation
Siraj emphasized the importance of joint cooperation in oil refining and the development of necessary infrastructure, adding: "In our discussions with government entities and private sector players in India, we believe we should seek to establish refineries to process crude oil and sell the final product. Our President recently spoke about transforming Guyana into a fueling hub for the marine ecosystem. This is an excellent idea, and we can build facilities in deep channels in the Atlantic Ocean. India has the necessary experience and scale and can collaborate with Guyana in this regard."
Siraj also emphasized strong momentum in bilateral relations and referred to recent diplomatic interactions that have acted as a catalyst for economic cooperation. He said: "The visit of the Prime Minister of India to Guyana in 2024 sent a clear message to the people of Guyana that this is the time for Guyana and India. We are one of the fastest-growing economies, and we can achieve better results with India's experiences and scale. The interaction of our Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, with our Minister also sent a clear message inviting investment."
These remarks come as India's Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, met with Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, on Thursday on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026, discussing ways to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, renewable energy, and food processing. Jaishankar conveyed warm messages from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Browne and congratulated him on successfully hosting CHOGM 2026.
The Indian Minister of External Affairs also wrote in a social media post: "I am pleased to have met with Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda. I conveyed warm messages from Prime Minister Modi and congratulated him on successfully hosting CHOGM 2026. We discussed deepening cooperation, especially in trade and investment, renewable energy, and food processing. His assessments in this regard were very valuable to us."
These interactions highlight India's efforts to strengthen economic and developmental partnerships across the Caribbean region. Jaishankar emphasized that these initiatives adhere to Prime Minister Modi's commitments during his visit to Guyana in November 2024 for the CARICOM-India Summit.
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