Marcelle Thomas

ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), and partners have secured the necessary local insurance for its operations here even as the oil major’s Country Manager Rod Henson assured that it won’t have to be used since there will be no oil spillage or accidents.

After several warnings, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined a Pomeroon coconut company $1 million for its dumping of shells and husks into tributaries of the Pomeroon River.

The 2016 renegotiation of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between government and ExxonMobil’s subsidiary benefitted both sides, according to the company’s Country Manager Rod Henson, who said that the oil major did not “strong arm” anyone and warned of the impact on investment if changes to the agreement are sought.

Tullow Oil and Gas of the United Kingdom yesterday announced that it had spud its first well in the offshore Orinduik Block on Thurs-day and results are expected next month.

President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday both sounded notes of optimism about reaching agreement on a new Guy-ana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson after they held their first meeting since the Carib-bean Court of Justice (CCJ) declared the previous appointment of retired judge James Patterson to be flawed.

Three years after government faced a scandal over the rental of a Sussex Street drug bond from a party member for millions of dollars, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) yesterday commissioned a 428.5 square metre bond extension at its Diamond, East Bank Demerara facility, costing some $161 million.

With the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) embarking on a probe of how two small companies without the capacity to drill for oil were able to lock down prime offshore acreage near to ExxonMobil’s key oil find days before the 2015 general elections, the spotlight will likely be on the key decision maker, then Minister of Natural Resources Robert Persaud.

The North Texas Guyanese Association (NTXGA) is arguably one of the most close-knit groups in the United States and relishes keeping Guyana’s traditions alive but it seems to have hit a hurdle in its efforts to pass them on to the younger generations.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) yesterday strongly refuted the claims by the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) that it is not adequately accounting for funds it has received and has withheld pertinent information on spending.

Guyana should not hold off on establishing a National Oil Company (NOC), according to the former head of Brazil’s oil and gas regulatory body, Nelson Narciso Filho, who says it would be essential for ensuring local capacity in industry planning and negotiations.

Even as Guyana awaits the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) ruling on the December 21st 2018 No Confidence Motion, the Organization of American States (OAS) has pledged its support for this country’s next elections and says it will be willing to help if requested by government.

Small contractors will still have to compete with big companies for all construction projects as this sector is not covered by recently-passed legislation for small business to get 20 per cent of all government contracts.

Investors in a proposed mega ‘green’ project at Linden are bemoaning what they believe is the deliberate delay by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) in notarising and filing their lease agreement although they have been paying rent for over a year.

Several local operators at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) met on Monday with Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and expressed their concern about the tendering process for duty-free shops at the airport.

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will not have all the resources needed for complete oversight of the petroleum sector by first oil next year, Executive Director Dr.

The 15 acres of land at Ogle, on the East Coast of Demerara, where the corporate head office of ExxonMobil Guyana is to be constructed, are non-airside and would not affect applications by aircraft operators for hangars or other space, according to Ogle Airport Inc.

After announcing that President David Granger had accepted the resignations of four APNU+AFC coalition parliamentarians with dual citizenship yesterday, the government said their ministerial portfolios would be taken up by the members of Cabinet who previously acted in their stead, while signalling that they would have new roles in the administration.

Concerns about liability coverage in the event of oil spills and other accidents, and meeting local insurance requirements are yet to be resolved between ExxonMobil and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) resulting in a stalling of works at the company’s Stabroek Block, sources say.

With plans to be in Guyana for several decades, ExxonMobil is forging ahead with plans for the construction of its local headquarters at Ogle, on the East Coast of Demerara.

The Guyana and Barbados Stock Exchanges on Friday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) and Minister of Finance Winston Jordan said he hoped the alliance will lead to local financial literacy being improved.