One week after ExxonMobil announced a one-barrel oil spill from the Liza Unity FPSO in the Stabroek Block, the Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling on the government to better equip the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) so that it can independently monitor activities offshore Guyana.
Last Saturday, ExxonMobil said that the team on the Liza Unity FPSO observ-ed a sheen on the water in the vicinity of the vessel. Initial investigations indicated that approximately one barrel of crude oil was released during a maintenance activity on the vessel. The activity was immediately stopped and the leak isolated.
At its weekly press conference on Friday, AFC’s David Patterson called on the government to put in place full coverage liability for petroleum production as is required by the Permits and demanded by almost all private citizens.
“Exxon previously reported that ‘no more than one tablespoon of crude oil has been spilled since the commencement of oil production in Guyana, this amount has now risen to one barrel, by volume, this is an over 10,000 per cent increase. This highlights that the possibility of a major oil spill is high, and will continue to increase directly proportional to increased oil production.
“The AFC once again calls for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), oversight mechanisms to be strengthened, it is unacceptable for this agency to be solely relying on the operator, for information on spillages and other hazards during oil production operations,” Patterson was quoted as saying.
He added the EPA should have a 24/7 presence offshore Guyana in an effort to gather independent data instead of having to rely on Exxon.
“Additional surveillance by helicopter confirmed that there was no sheen in the area; only a light sheen was perceptible approximately 20 km (13 miles) North West of the vessel. By midday on September 10th, a support vessel in the area confirmed no further sign of a sheen”, a release from Exxon stated when it announced the spill.
Earlier this week, Stabroek News reported that the EPA said that it is investigating the spill. The Agency’s executive director Kemraj Parsram confirmed that an investigation has been launched and promised a release of the findings upon completion.
Yesterday, several calls to his phone went unanswered. Additionally, efforts to contact the head of EPA’s oil and gas unit, Joel Gravesande, were unsuccessful.
