At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, US-based medical services provider RemoteMD charged 15 oil services workers US$350 ($70,000) each for a rapid COVID test, far higher than local labs and raising questions again over the expense claims that ExxonMobil and its contractors will make as cost oil.
An invoice seen by Stabroek News shows that RemoteMD submitted a bill to Gaico Construction on February 19 last year for 15 rapid tests totalling US$5,250 (just over $1 million).
While this figure in itself is not large, it should have been lower and will be eventually claimed as cost oil, thereby reducing profits due to Guyana. Up to 75% of each year’s oil revenue can be claimed by ExxonMobil and its partners as cost oil. The remaining 25% profit oil is split equally between Guyana on one hand and ExxonMobil and its partners on the other.