Local ExxonMobil affiliate ESSO Exploration & Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL) and a United States-based development company DAI Global, LLC, are setting up a Centre for Local Business Development, which is expected to help local businesses better position themselves in areas that serve the oil and gas industries.
In a press release issued yesterday, EEPGL said the facility would be opened next month in Georgetown.
According to the release, the centre will assist small and medium-sized Guyanese businesses with building their capacity and improving their competitiveness in a range of sectors that serve the oil and gas and other industries.
“The Centre for Local Business Development is an investment in the people of Guyana and the future of the country. ExxonMobil is proud to assist in the design and implementation of this important resource,” Rod Henson, Country Manager of EEPGL was quoted as saying. He said too that the centre will play a key role in furthering the capabilities of local businesses, with which the company is eager to partner.
“Local suppliers are important to the success of ExxonMobil’s operations,” he said. “Through the centre, we hope to strengthen the capabilities of these local companies, as well as improve the competitiveness of Guyana’s industrial base.”
The release informed that the centre will focus primarily on developing local venders that serve key sectors of the oil and gas industries, including areas such as safety equipment, marine operations, offshore supply and civil construction. It said too that it will also provide mentoring, coaching and access to financial support.
According to the release, the centre will be a reliable resource for information on safety, technical standards, procurement opportunities and project-specific information. “ExxonMobil, its contractors, the broader oil and gas industry, and the government will be able to utilise the centre for sourcing local vendors and services,” it added.
The release noted that following the centre’s opening in July, ExxonMobil will work with DAI Global over a three-year period to transition the centre to Guyanese management.
Supporting local companies
Meanwhile, ExxonMobil’s Senior Director for Public and Government Affairs Kimberly Johnson-Brasington told Stabroek News that ExxonMobil is committed to supporting contracting (and subcontracting) with local companies when possible
She noted that that EEPGL’s workforce is over 50% Guyanese and during the first quarter of this year the company and its contractors have spent $6 million on local vendors. Johnson-Brasington provided responses to several questions asked by this newspaper.
Asked to what extent ExxonMobil believes Guyana has the required skills and human resources to meet the company’s needs, she explained that there are tenders posted on the company’s website in areas where EEPGL believes Guyanese vendors may potentially qualify as prime contractors or as subcontractors. “We are committed to supporting contracting (and subcontracting) with local companies when possible. Preference is given to companies that are Guyanese and are able to effectively support the project objectives, including safety and health, environmental compliance, quality, profitability and achieving schedule milestones,” she said.
ExxonMobil last week advertised locally for a range of services. Johnson-Brasington said that similar ads have not been placed in overseas publications for those identical services since the company’s intention is to “post tenders on our website that Guyanese vendors may qualify to participate.” She said that the ads are to make companies in Guyana aware of the company’s website, supplier registration portal and posted tenders.
Asked if the ads are in keeping with the requirements of the local content policy, she responded in the negative. “There was no requirement to do so,” she noted.
EEPGL holds an interest and is the operator in the Stabroek, Canje and Kaieteur Blocks, offshore Guyana. In May 2015, ExxonMobil announced an oil and gas discovery in the Stabroek Block, marking the first significant discovery for the country.
