Opinion
Weigh oil governance in the 2025 Elections
On Monday, September 1, 2025, the people of Guyana will head to the polls in what may be the most consequential General and Regional Elections since independence in 1966. The Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) is committed to safeguarding Guyana’s resources, strengthening democratic institutions, and ensuring that the blessings of our oil wealth truly…
Sovereignty or sanctity of contract: It’s a voters’ choice
Every Man, Woman and Child must become oil minded – Column 168 Petroleum and gas and supporting services make up 94% of the Mining and Quarrying sector which in turn makes up 70% of Guyana’s economy. Since 2021, it has been primarily responsible for the spectacular growth that has earned Guyana the distinction of fastest…
Absence of ring-fencing in the PSA 2016 has permitted oil companies to subtract unlimited arbitrary capital recovery charges from the sale of crude oil
The 2016 Petroleum Sharing Agreement does not contain any Article on ring-fencing. Does this omission give the oil companies the rights to do just as they please? There is no Amendment or addendum that permits the oil companies to subtract unlimited exploration and drilling costs from the extraction and sales of crude oil. The 2016…
In 2024 the government forwent about US$5,250 per Guyanese because of a lack of Ring-Fencing
As of August 2025, there are now 4 deepwater oil operations in production, altogether capable of pumping 900,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) a day, or US$1.8 billion in oil revenue per month, at today’s oil prices. There have been repeated calls for these projects to be ring-fenced. To quote Christopher Ram’s definition of Ring-Fencing,…
The scale of Closed Areas Committee economic rent redirected away from GGMC could be beyond our imagination
Among the disclosures which ‘top miner’ Azeem ‘Junior’ Baksh made to journalist Travis Chase on 27 March 2025, and aired on 12 August 2025, (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3980217925561620) were his interactions pertaining to the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Closed Areas Committee. ‘Closed Areas’ refer to lands hitherto held under large-scale Prospecting Licences that are progressively released by…
Simple renegotiation letter for the next government
OGGN is making it simple for the next government to call for renegotiation of the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) by writing the template that can be used by the government to initiate the renegotiation process according to the terms of the contract. Here is the letter: Alistair Routledge, President ExxonMobil Guyana Dear…
2025 Manifestos – This time it is the PPP/C’s Record on the Line
2025 Manifestos – This time it is the PPP/C’s Record on the Line By Christopher Ram On August 22, 2025 @ 2:01 am In The Road To First Oil | Every Man, Woman and Child in Guyana Must Become Oil-Minded – Column 167 Introduction The electorate in 2020 punished APNU+AFC for the lopsided 2016 Petroleum…
Are members of the GGDMA providing money, security and bodyguards ‘free of charge’ to the PPP?
On 27 August 2023, the Guyana Chronicle reported on a Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) awards ceremony: ‘Among the distinguished awardees were: … Gold Target Export – Recognized as the leader among Top Gold Traders’. One of the photographs featured in the Guyana Chronicle report was of Azeem Baksh, of Gold Target Export,…
The pattern of Exxon’s inflated expenditures should trigger immediate investigation by the next government
On July 2nd, 2025, Stabroek News published a letter from the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) disputing Chris Ram’s assertion that the 2024 financials for the Stabroek Block consortium (consisting of EMGL, HESS Guyana, and CNOOC Guyana) represent “a fundamental distortion that demands immediate investigation, attention, transparency and…
Total revenue of US$43.5 billion under different expense scenarios
Stacked Expense Bar Chart Total revenue of US$43.5 billion under different expense scenarios