Journalists need to become more adept at investigating conflicts of interest in the oil sector
My term as Petroleum Adviser to President Granger began in March 2017, whereas the re-negotiation of the contract for the Stabroek Block was performed about a year earlier (early part of 2016). I have not negotiated contracts between any oil company and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. President Granger has been clear that his priority…
One local content item that Guyana is successfully capable of handling is insurance
I refer to the letter in Stabroek News yesterday in which the Insurance Association of Guyana has spoken up. It is nice to see that my old association is taking a public stand in representation of the insurance industry and its capabilities, and in the process, correcting the false notion that Guyana is unprepared for…
Vote for leaders who will demand renegotiation of the oil contracts
Global Witness has revealed that Guyana stands to lose at least US$55 billion from the current 7.9 billion barrels in the Stabroek Block. The major political parties have not indicated that they will renegotiate the atrocious Stabroek oil contract. But the Guyanese people have other choices. Leaders of both the Change Guyana party and the…
Dumping mud on our livelihoods to enrich Exxon and partners
I am responding to your article ‘EPA says impact study needed of new proposed Exxon drilling programme in Stabroek Block – cites possible cumulative effect’ (SN 18 July 2022). In this article you state, “`With respect to fishery operations there are no impacts that are anticipated due to the distance of the project location and…
What is downstream?
Downstream is the processing and selling of refined products in the oil and gas business. These products just do not include gasoline and diesel, but a whole gamut of products as outlined below. The “super majors” like ExxonMobil are involved in many elements of these processes as joint venture partners in hundreds of money-spinning projects. This…
I was never assured by the gov’t of being re-engaged
An article in Kaieteur News (07-Aug-2018, ‘The Department of Energy will decide if it needs Dr Mangal’s expertise – Harmon’) gave the impression that I was “assured” by the government of being re-engaged. This is incorrect. I was never assured by the government of being re-engaged nor did I seek to convey this impression in…
It would appear Mr. Jagdeo clearly understands the need for full liability coverage
VP Jagdeo himself, admitted on the Glenn Lall show that “yes, full liability coverage is in all of the permits”; and in his August 19, 2022 press conference, exclaims “it is by law and by the permit they have to do this. Full coverage: that is an obligation…that’s what the oil companies understand is that…
President Jagan was opposed to the philosophical mentality linked with handouts which I do not recall ever being repudiated by Vice-President Jagdeo
In a recent letter, Ramesh Gampat explained in plain English why it is a ‘fantasy’ to say that Guyanese are rich because of oil. After removing oil from economic calculations, Dr. Gampat showed that ‘Of the 33 countries in the Americas for which data are available, there were 17 countries with per capita income larger…
GRA does not have capacity to review oil contract costs, gov’t should hold approval for Liza 2 until issues fixed
It has been reported that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will review contract costs proposed by ExxonMobil for its work as a contractor to the Government in the Stabroek Block. If the Government intends to undertake a rigorous review of the contract costs, this is not the optimal route. Instead, the Government will be taking…