The Ministry of Natural Resources, yesterday announced Government’s intention to establish an onshore oil and gas facility in Guyana to fully optimise opportunities for the country in the area of petroleum exploration and production.
In a statement, it said that the decision was made on Monday.
It said that the Ministry of Natural Resources, working in conjunction with the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Business, believes that such a facility is a “critically needed one and is part of the raft of measures intended to ensure that Guyana keeps on the right trajectory in the development of the oil and gas industry”.
It added that the development of onshore infrastructure is vital to the success of the offshore oil and gas activities, and it is expected that this logistics and supply base will be able to serve the sector as a whole.
“Government believes that as the industry continues to evolve early plans must be put in place to harness the synergies and benefits that will arise from this and other necessary infrastructure including, providing much needed employment to large numbers of Guyanese workers”, the statement said.
It noted that onshore facilities normally include a shipyard, port facilities oil field waste disposal, oil spill response, electric power infrastructure, support and heliport facilities, platform fabrication support and numerous other services.
The government said it is currently reviewing several locations as part of the consideration for the establishment of the facility that is expected to be created in collaboration with the private sector in a public/private partnership and in keeping with industry standards.
Shipping companies Muneshwer’s and John Fernandes Limited have already signalled their interest in providing services to the oil and gas industry.
