The main opposition APNU+AFC has approached the National Assembly to have a land use policy developed to manage the location of shore bases in the Oil and Gas Sector.
A motion laid by former Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson seeks to compel the PPP/C government to establish a Multi-Agency Taskforce to prepare and present to the Assembly within six months a Land Use Policy report specifically for the location of Oil and Gas shore-based facilities.
According to the motion the taskforce should take into consideration a “preference of this National Assembly for future onshore bases to be in the Counties of Berbice and Essequibo” so as to ensure parity in development of the Oil and Gas Industry and the equitable development across Guyana for the benefit of all citizens.
Speaking to Stabroek News about the rationale behind the motion, Patterson yesterday stressed that the current shore base facility was not planned.
“Future shore bases should be planned – Houston is still zoned as residential – and has been developing unchecked. There are three rivers in the country, all can accommodate shore bases without challenges. No foreign company should be allowed to decide where they want bases, it has to be directed by a development plan,” Patterson said.
Asked whether any attempts had been made during the APNU+AFC tenure to craft such a policy, he said yes.
He reminded that then Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman had announced in 2017 that government intended to locate the next shore base facility in Berbice and had commissioned a feasibility study to scout the best location after Crab Island proved unsuitable.
The motion acknowledges that ExxonMobil had recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify contractors who can provide fully functional, fit for purpose shore-based facilities, to support their needs of future projects starting in 2023 but asks government to advise the company to suspend their RFI until the Taskforce completes its Report.
The final request of the motion is for all future shore bases to be publicly owned.
“All future shore bases shall be State-Owned but leased to private operators so as to ensure the maximum benefit for all Guyanese,” it states.
The current shore-based facility, Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) is a consortium comprising Muneshwer’s Limited, TOTALTEC Oilfield Services, Pacific Rim Constructors and LED Offshore.
The 28-acre warehousing and logistics base currently offers the oil and gas company services including port facilities, accommodations on site, fuel bunkering, bulk cementing and mud plants.
