Residents and key stakeholders of Region One were told that even though Guyana is not producing oil as yet, it is still a significant player on the world market.
They were at the time attending the disclosure of the Payara Development Project/Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) findings at Mabaruma on Friday.
ExxonMobil’s Production Manager, Mike Ryan, in response to a question, told the gathering that based on its reserves, per capita, Guyana is one of the leading world producers. He said too that with a population of 750,000, that’s significant.
Residents also asked how the crude was being placed in the world classification, in terms of quantity and about the types of crude.
Ryan responded that for “the first year quality would be lighter. And that is sought after in the world market.”
He said too that there is “slightly heavier crude while some have more gas, so it is not an easy process.”
He pointed out that the crude “would be marketable…” and it would be a “world class operation in Guyana.”
The EIA was recently presented to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Todd Hall a consultant with the Environmental Resources Management (ERM), told this newspaper that they would continue to visit the coastal regions to give similar presentations to residents of regions Three, Five and Six so they can understand what the key findings of the EIA are.
The presentations are being held during the 60-day comments period when they have the opportunity to pose questions and comments to the EPA, Hall said.
Ryan told Stabroek News that they came out to the disclosure session “to speak to the residents on the study that the third party consultant did for the EIA.”
Residents were provided pamphlets and Ryan gave an overview of the activities for phase one and phase two of the Liza project as well as Payara.
He said they had “great questions and had great participation and interests” from residents.
An Open House on the Payara EIA project was held at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown on September 30.
The conclusion of the EIA is that with the “adaptation of embedded controls, migration methods and managements plans, as well as emergency response preparedness the PDP (Payara Development Project) is expected to pose only minor risks to the environment and socioeconomic resources of Guyana. And to offer the potential for significant economic benefits to the residents of Guyana.”
The recommendations of the consultants include the maintaining of the oil spill response plan and committing to regular oil spills response drills.
Payara will be the third oil field development for ExxonMobil after Liza-1 and Liza-2 in the offshore Stabroek Block.
