Guyana’s False Dilemma: When Western Hypocrisy Clashes with the Right to Development
- Jorge Miroslav Jara Salas
- Feb 7
- 3 min read
Throughout my career spanning over 30 years managing energy projects in regions as diverse as the Caspian Sea, West Africa, and Latin America, I have witnessed firsthand how energy transforms societies. However, rarely have I seen a debate as polarized—and often as hypocritical—as the one currently surrounding Guyana's oil boom.
Today, the world is watching this small South American nation, which has gone from the economic periphery to becoming an emerging energy titan. By the end of 2026, Guyana is expected to exceed a production of 1.200,000 barrels per day, surpassing historic producers like Colombia and Argentina. This boom is not a luxury; it is the key to improving the quality of life for its population and avoiding what its own government has aptly described as "a sentence to poverty".
However, voices from Western capitals are rising, demanding a halt to this growth in the name of climate morality. They question whether Guyana has the "right" to exploit its resources in the midst of a global crisis. Faced with this, my technical and ethical stance is clear: Who has the moral right to dictate the pace of development of an emerging nation?
The Hypocrisy of the Green Narrative
Recently, a British journalist asked the President of Guyana if he felt "morally responsible" for the future emissions from his country's oil. The response was masterful and exposed the root of the issue: developed powers polluted the world without restrictions for decades to build their wealth, and now they intend to pull up the ladder from those trying to climb it.
It is essential to inject realism into this conversation. While pressure is placed on Guyana—a country whose rainforests still absorb more CO₂ than they emit, remaining a net carbon sink—global data tells a very different story about who is truly responsible for the current problem.
The dominant narrative speaks of transition, but the reality is that the coal era never ended. The year 2023 was a record year for the consumption of this mineral, with more than 8.6 billion tons burned globally. Powers like China and India depend on coal for more than 50% and 70% of their electricity generation, respectively, and have approved new plants,. It is, therefore, hypocrisy to condemn the oil development of a small country while major economies continue to base their stability on the most polluting fossil fuel.
Towards a Technical, Not Moralistic, Debate
As an engineer, I insist that the solution does not lie in empty moral debates, but in technological innovation and pragmatism. A just energy transition is not achieved by prohibiting, but by substituting in an orderly and efficient manner.
We must understand the scales involved. To replicate the baseload energy produced by hydrocarbons, renewables require immense physical infrastructure; a solar field might need to be the size of half a city to match a conventional thermal plant. Therefore, natural gas stands as the most viable bridge today, capable of reducing emissions by 50% compared to coal.
The true turning point will arrive not with political decrees, but with technical breakthroughs. Real change will happen when we find products that can replace oil not only as fuel but as an essential raw material for fertilizers and plastics. Until then, denying developing countries access to their resources is not climate justice; it is an unjust imposition.
The urgent focus must be on eliminating coal and generating realistic global policies that balance sustainability with human development. Guyana has the right to flourish, and the developed world has the duty to support a transition based on equity and technology, not on restricting the progress of others.
About the author:
Jorge Miroslav Jara Salas is a global energy expert with over 30 years of experience leading complex operations in the petroleum industry. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Magnaccord Group SL, a company specialized in strategic investments in Latin America's energy sector. www.jorgemiroslavjarasalas.com
Comments