The US Embassy sponsored a two-day workshop on managing offshore oil and gas resources, to provide technical and other support to local government agencies in the sector.
A joint Government of Guyana/US Embassy statement said the workshop was led by the US Department of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE). The US Embassy partnered with the government in this endeavour under the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI) – a US Department of State-led global effort “to provide a range of technical support to the governments and institutions of selected countries that are expected to become emerging oil and gas producers.”
The statement said about 30 officials from a broad cross-section of local government agencies participated in the session. Through the EGCI, Guyana has access to the US’s top government experts, along with their global expertise on issues related to petroleum geology, licensing, exploration and production operations, revenue management, policy reform, regulation and implementation, and energy sector finance and tax, it noted. EGCI also provides the benefit of building both high-level and working contact networks to provide unbiased, sound advice and guidance as well as lasting relationships that can further long-term institutional stability, sector development and governance, the statement said.
In addition, the workshop provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the responsibilities and activities of BOEMRE. Participants also engaged in detailed discussions of how issues relevant to Guyana’s offshore oil and gas sector are handled in the US, including: geologic and economic modelling; reviewing, authorising, and inspecting exploration and production infrastructure; and environmental review and compliance.
