Bourbon offshore vessel venture with Tethys

 Adis Ajdin,  April 18, 2023

Local company Tethys Marine & Logistics will be a majority shareholder in a joint venture created with French offshore vessel player Bourbon. Bourbon Guyana, which has operated in the country since 2019 and supported ExxonMobil and Saipem in the development of the Stabroek field, will be 51% owned by Tethys. The operation comprises a fleet of six vessels, including large platform supply vessels, anchor-handling tug supply ships and tugs.

With 75% Guyanese directors, Bourbon Guyana becomes the first indigenous offshore support vessels operator, fully compliant with the most recent local content regulations. Rodolphe Bouchet, CEO of Bourbon Marine & Logistics, commented:

“The partnership with Tethys Marine & Logistics represents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our current position in Guyana. Through this operation, Bourbon becomes a “Guyanese” company in country with a local majority shareholder. This is a very important aspect for us, as we always want to include local content in the territories in which we are present.”

Earlier this year, Bourbon and its Canadian counterpart, Horizon Maritime, formed a joint venture company targeting the North Sea and Canadian offshore sectors.

First Domestic OSV Operator

Mike Schuler
April 17, 2023

Offshore vessel operator Bourbon Offshore announced a deal to create Guyana’s first domestic offshore support vessel (OSV) operator.   Bourbon’s Marine & Logistics division announced a partnership with Guyanese company Tethys Marine & Logistics, where TML will become 51% shareholder of the Bourbon Guyana Joint Venture.

Bourbon has been operating in Guyana since 2019 through Bourbon Guyana with a fleet of six vessels, including Large PSV, AHTS, and Tugs. The company employs around 70 Guyanese seafarers and successfully supported ExxonMobil Guyana and Saipem Guyana for the development of the massive Stabroek offshore oil field.

The partnership with TML will bring Bourbon Guyana into full compliance with local content regulations, with 75% Guyanese directors, making it the first indigenous OSV operator in the Guyana. Rodolphe Bouchet, CEO of Bourbon Marine & Logistics, said the partnership with TML is a great opportunity to strengthen their position in Guyana.

“Through this operation, Bourbon becomes a “Guyanese” company in country with a local majority shareholder. This is a very important aspect for us, as we always want to include local content in the territories in which we are present. We share the same culture with Bourbon and our visions for the future of the industry in Guyana are aligned. It is very important for Bourbon Guyana to consolidate its leadership position in this promising territory,” added Jaikerran Persaud, CEO of Tethys Marine & Logistics.

Guyana has emerged as one of the hottest markets for offshore oil and gas exploration following a string of significant discoveries by ExxonMobil dating back to 2015 at country’s massive 6.6 million acre Stabroek Block.

The country plans to hold its first competitive oil auction in July after its original date was pushed back from May.

Deadline extended for first competitive offshore licensing round

17 Apr 2023

The Ministry of Natural Resources announced the extension of the Guyana 2022 Licensing Round’s bid submission deadline to July 15 2023.

Industry feedback and the advanced pace of modernising the oil and gas regulatory framework underscore the extended bidding period for the nation’s first competitive offshore oil and gas licensing round.

The Round, officially launched on December 9th 2022, continues to receive strong global interest and the government has benefitted from insightful feedback during the consultation periods of the Indicative Terms and Guidelines and the draft model production sharing agreements (PSAs).

Concurrently, the government recognises that the new era of oil and gas development, facilitated by this current and future rounds, must be governed by a modern regulatory framework and has been thoroughly moving the finalisation of the model PSA, as promised in this government’s manifesto, and the overhaul and strengthening of the 1986 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act.

The administration also recently concluded agreements with PGS Exploration (UK) and CGG Data Services to reprocess additional 2D seismic data relevant to the blocks for tender. Existing and prospective participants of the licensing round will benefit from the availability of further seismic data which can be licensed to better inform the bids submitted.

The Government of Guyana remains committed to the successful execution of the Guyana 2022 Licensing Round and the strengthening of the nation’s fiscal and legal petroleum management frameworks.

The Guyana 2022 Licensing Round was originally announced Deember 9 2022, with a closing date of April 14 2023.

 

 

Guyana postpones highly anticipated bid round

New deadline set for welcoming offers for 14 shallow-water and ultra-deepwater blocks

13 April 2023
By Fabio Palmigiani in Rio de Janeiro

Guyana has pushed back by three months the deadline for offers in first competitive bid round, which will feature 14 offshore blocks under revamped terms and conditions.

In one the world’s hottest oil and gas frontier areas, US supermajor ExxonMobil discovered about 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent in recoverable resources in the Stabroek block and the government estimates the offshore to hold over 25 billion boe.

The government initially aimed to stage the round late last year, but extensive preparatory work had to be completed first and the petrostate eventually set the 14 April date to welcome bids.

Guyana extends bid round again

2023, 04/13

Guyana announced a second extension of the deadline for the 2022 Licensing Round’s bid submission for 14 oil blocks to July 15 this year. The bid round for the offshore blocks was due to close on April 14.

SBM Offshore

14 April 2023
By Xu Yihe in Singapore

Dutch floater specialist SBM Offshore finalised talks with China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) to build the hull and living quarters for its latest floating production, storage and offloading vessel, potentially destined for operation ay ExxonMobil’s Stabroek block offshore.

The award will commit CMHI shipyard in Qidong city in eastern China’s Jiangsu province to fabricate the FPSO hull, internally named as multipurpose floater C (MPF C), to be classed by ABS.

Third FPSO arrives in Stabroek Block

April 11, 2023

Offshore staff

AMSTERDAM — The Prosperity FPSO has arrived at the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, SBM Offshore announced.

The vessel travelled just over 11,000 nautical miles, or just over 20,000 km, from Singapore in under 50 days. On track for first oil later this year, Prosperity becomes Guyana’s third FPSO joining Liza Destiny and Liza Unity.

The vessel will be chartered to Exxon Mobil, Hess and CNOOC to operate on the Payara project in the Stabroek Block offshore , where it will be spread moored in 1,900 m water depth.

Prosperity is designed to produce 220,000 bbl/d of oil, with gas treatment of 400 MMcf/d and water injection of 250,000 bbl/d, and storage for about 2 MMbbl.

New floating vessel arrives as oil production grows

2023, 04/11

ExxonMobil Guyana announced the arrival of the floating production storage and offloading vessel, Prosperity, the third oil platform that will operate in the Stabroek block offshore.

Prosperity was built in Singapore and was named and launched by the wife of President Dr. Irfaan Ali. It joins the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity FPSOs, which are currently producing over 380,000 barrels per day.

With an initial production capacity of around 220,000 barrels of oil per day and an overall storage volume of two million barrels, the vessel is part of the Payara development, the third project within the giant Stabroek Block offshore that is shared by ExxonMobil (45 per cent), Hess Corporation (30 per cent) and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (25 per cent).    Prosperity is expected to push daily production to an estimated 600,000 barrels daily next year.

ExxonMobil Guyana Production Manager Mike Ryan said,
“The arrival of the Prosperity FPSO is a testimony to the strong partnership between ExxonMobil Guyana, the government of Guyana, our co-venturers and the many suppliers that support our operations. We are excited to contribute to Guyana’s energy future and create lasting opportunities for the nation’s growth and prosperity,”

 

 

World Bank

Macro Poverty Outlook for Guyana : April 2023 – Datasheet (English). Macro Poverty Outlook (MPO) Washington, D.C. : World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099901004112340498/IDU0cc4da0a60bc1504acf0a95306cb4d04cf944

Apr 15, 2023

The World Bank revealed that while Guyana has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies as a result of the developments of its oil and gas sector, several key factors can hamper long-term development for the country.

This was stated in a March 2023 report by the bank titled “Latin America and the Caribbean: Macro Poverty Outlook (country-by-country analysis and projections for the developing world).”

With a population of about 800,000 people. the outlook for Guyana is threatened as “Guyana’s increasing reliance on the oil and gas sector, a weak institutional base and a fragile political environment pose great risk to long-term development.”, despite the Government ‘s aggressive investment programme seeking to structurally transform the non-oil economy,

Since becoming an oil-producer in December 2019, Guyana has been operating with outdated petroleum laws. Recently, the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was reported as stating that the 1986 Petroleum Act is among oil and gas legislations that have been identified for updating and modernizing; a new draft will be in the public domain for consultations soon.

In December 2020, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) warned that loopholes in Guyana’s legislative framework weaken protection for the oil sector.

Entering office in August 2020, the PPP administration promised an overhaul for Guyana’s petroleum laws. Although President Irfaan Ali during his inauguration address pledged to establish a Petroleum Commission to insulate the oil and gas sector from political interference, for eight years, Guyana has lacked an updated legislative and regulatory framework.

The Government implemented a Natural Resource Fund (NRF) to manage the oil proceeds. The NRF legislation allows for a Board of Directors, an Investment Committee and a Public Accountability and Oversight Committee. Most of the members of the committees responsible for the management of the oil revenue have either been appointed directly by the President or chosen by the National Assembly, where the President’s party has a majority.

The World Bank reported some key conditions and challenges.

Firstly, “Guyana is a small state with abundant natural resources including significant oil and gas (O&G) reserves and extensive forest cover. The development of its O&G sector is leading to a notable scale-up of investments in infrastructure to support the development of other industries including agriculture.”

After two years of oil production, the closing balance of the NRF stood at US$1.43 billion at end of 2022.

Secondly, the country has taken initiatives to sell carbon credits which represents an additional source of fiscal revenues which will be partly employed in the sustainable management of its forest. The government has advanced its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LDCS 2030) to counter anticipated increases in Green-House-Gas (GHG) emissions.

However, the Bank reiterated, “Sound management of the O&G sector will necessitate strengthening governance, and fiscal and public financial management practices while boosting transparency and accountability to avoid increased social polarization.”

The Bank reported that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is expected to reach US$32,479 by 2025, which is five times more than levels recorded in 2019. With over 70 percent of the working-age population residing in rural areas, agriculture, forestry, and fishing remain relevant for jobs and poverty reduction.

Guyana’s resource wealth contrasts with the overall needs of the population with about half of the population living below US$5.50 a day in 2019. “Poverty and social exclusion, including limited access to basic services, are particularly severe in Guyana’s hinterland and among Amerindians.”

WB noted that rising budget resources present opportunities and risks. Scaling up of the budget allowed the Government to respond to ongoing overlapping crises and close gaps in infrastructure, education and social security systems to boost human capital and poverty reduction, including in the hinterland where public service provision is particularly weak.

 

 

Mature response from Guyana at ICJ victory over Venezuela

Apr 09, 2023,

By Sir Ronald Sanders

[Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own.]

Guyana has won a second judgement in an ongoing case against Venezuela, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague, “to confirm the legal validity and binding effect” of an 1899 arbitration that determined the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela as “a full, perfect and final settlement”.

The Court made the latest judgement with 14 Judges in favour and one against. The Judge, casting the single dissenting vote was Mr. Phillipe Couvreur who was chosen by the Venezuelan Government to sit as an ad hoc judge in the case.

At stake in the case was the acceptability or rejection by the Court of a preliminary objection from the Venezuelan government, which argued that the United Kingdom (UK) is an indispensable third party without whose consent the Court cannot adjudicate upon the dispute.

The UK is the former colonial power in Guyana (formerly British Guiana) which became an independent, sovereign state on 26 May 1966. The UK was party to the 1899 arbitral award, but by an agreement, signed on 17 February 1966 in Geneva (to which Guyana became a party at its independence) the settlement of the dispute, which Venezuela resurrected in 1962, was left to Guyana and Venezuela in accordance with procedures set out in the agreement.

• The Judges of ICJ, having considered the legal arguments made by Guyana and Venezuela, and after examination of the historical facts of the case, decided to reject the Venezuelan preliminary objection, saying that the exercise of the Court’s jurisdiction “is based on the application of the Geneva Agreement” and that the UK was not involved in the dispute settlement arrangements between Guyana and Venezuela, nor did either of them “request the United Kingdom’s participation”.

An important aspect of the 1966 Geneva Agreement was that, as the Court put it, “Guyana and Venezuela could submit the dispute to one of the means of settlement set out in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, without the involvement of the United Kingdom.” Article 33 allows for the parties to a dispute “to seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.” One of the solutions is that if the parties fail to reach agreement regarding the means of settlement, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall choose another of the means stipulated in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Guyana and Venezuela failed to find a settlement after 52 years of direct discussion, mixed commissions and mediation. Therefore, on 30 January 2018, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, chose the ICJ “as the means that is now to be used for its solution”. Subsequently, Guyana instituted proceedings against Venezuela at the ICJ to establish “the legal validity and binding effect” of the 1899 boundary settlement. At that time, two generations of Guyanese had lived in uncertainty and fear of Venezuela’s aggression and incursions into their territory.

Venezuela was unhappy about the involvement of the ICJ from the outset, even though it is the instrument of a legal and peaceful process that the UN Charter provides for the settlement of disputes and is one that has been used from its inception by nations across the world. Consequently, on 18 June 2018, Venezuela launched its first objection to the case brought by Guyana, stating that the ICJ had no jurisdiction to hear the case.

• In all fairness to Venezuela, the ICJ decided to postpone hearing the merits of the Guyana case until it had considered the Venezuelan arguments regarding the Court’s jurisdiction. On 18 December 2020, the Court found that it did have jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s case on the validity of the 1899 arbitral award. That was the first legal blow to Venezuela.

On 7 June 2022, Venezuela responded by filing the preliminary objection which the Court agreed was admissible for consideration. However, having examined the argument for the preliminary objection, for five months since 17 November 2022, the Court rejected it on 6 April 2023, confirming that it can adjudicate upon the merits of the case brought by Guyana for judicial settlement. But it will be another year before that happens; Venezuela has been given a year to respond to Guyana.

It is clear that, in these judicial proceedings, Venezuela has been given every opportunity to present its objections, and lengthy consideration has been given by the ICJ to its arguments before rejecting them. The international judicial system is working in a fair and objective manner, about which Venezuela can have no reason for complaint.

The more fundamental problem is that since 1962, sixty-three years after its parliament accepted and praised the 1899 arbitration, which gave Venezuela more territory than it had, successive Venezuelan governments have tried to distract attention from their deep internal divisions by trying to build unity around a false claim to the Essequibo region.

That claim was developed on an unsubstantiated note from a dead man, Severo Mallet-Prevost, a member of Venezuela’s legal team during the 1899 proceeding, that he knew of a “political deal” in the arbitration’s findings. Similar unsubstantiated allegations were made in Venezuela’s preliminary objection submitted to the ICJ in 2022. They are a flimsy basis on which to build an entire national belief system, but it has been reinforced in Venezuelan schools and enhanced by false maps of the country. This disinformation has also promoted hostility toward Guyana from Venezuelan citizens.

The ICJ process may eventually settle the legal basis for the Guyana-Venezuela boundary. It is in both countries’ interest to continue to participate fully in the Court’s proceedings, and, once finalized, to accept its decision, as many other countries have done since 1946.

It is good that Guyana did not take a triumphalist stance toward Venezuela after its two legal victories at the ICJ. Instead, its President, Irfaan Ali, took the mature position of simply stating Guyana’s confidence “that its longstanding international boundary with Venezuela will be confirmed by the Court.”

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsaders.com

 

 

British Chamber of Commerce Guyana

Mar 30, 2023

United Kingdom and Guyanese government and business representatives celebrated the official launch of the British Chamber of Commerce Guyana at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Georgetown.

The new trade body was hailed as a springboard for bilateral investment and business opportunities. BritCham Guyana, an independent body, will act as a hub and partner for British and Guyanese companies interested in working together or investing in each market, as well as fostering a strong ecosystem for information sharing and networking, improving the ease of doing business, and collaborating with UK and Guyanese authorities to support the business community.

“What is really clear is that there are many opportunities ahead of us,” said David Rutley, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Americas and Caribbean. “It is a logical time for this launch.”

Rutley told guests including government ministers and business leaders that the creation of BritCham Guyana would build on the existing momentum of the UK’s strong relationship with Guyana, alongside the return of direct flights between London and Guyana via British Airways, visa free travel to the UK, and a recent partnership arrangement.

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips said BritCham Guyana represented “another important development in fostering strong economic ties between Britain and Guyana. “The launch of BritCam solidifies the economic partnership between Britain and Guyana. It is also a recognition of the growing interests between our countries.”

“There are huge opportunities,” said British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller OBE. “It is super exciting having this chamber and a real leap in our relationship. It is being driven by some amazing people.”

Guysons CEO Faizal Khan, a joint British-Guyanese citizen who chairs the new trade body, said the chamber would work in harmony with existing trade bodies and government departments in their shared goal to drive prosperity and economic opportunity.

“I see our role as a three-pronged attack, Promoting and facilitating trade, investment and commerce; fostering an open networking environment, and complementing the work of the British High Commission and UK government departments in Guyana, as well as other business chambers in Guyana.”

Khan urged interested businesses and individuals to contact the chamber to join its membership. An application form can be downloaded from britchamgy.com. “We will strive to become the go-to partner for investors and businesses from the UK and Guyana to help them explore, understand, access and navigate each market, and to provide the expert support they need to achieve their goals.”

 

 

Over £1B in Guyana- UK trade in 2022 March 29, 2023

 PM Phillips says launch of BRITCHAM represents closer economic ties between Great Britain and Guyana

GUYANA and the United Kingdom (UK, advanced efforts to solidify their economic partnership with the launch of the British Chamber of Commerce Guyana (BritCham Guyana) to facilitate and promote trade and investments between the two countries.

Chairman of BritCham, Faizal Khan, at the launch, said that in 2022, for the first time in history, Guyana and the UK surpassed £1 billion and he is confident that this number will continue to grow.

“We are very confident those figures will only continue to grow and BritCham will do everything we can to try and continue to facilitate that.”

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said that the establishment of BritCham represents another important development in fostering stronger and closer economic ties between Great Britain and Guyana.

“These economic bonds build on the strong ties of history and shared interests between Britain and Guyana. From our perspective, it is also a recognition of the growing interest in our country’s burgeoning economy and the growing trade and investment between Great Britain and Guyana. We now have a Chamber of Commerce that would allow for… opportunities for the expansion of trade and tourism.”

While Guyana is also expanding its economic relations with various countries and regions of the world, he said it is only natural that such expanding relations include traditional economic partners, such as Britain.

“Our economic relations, however, revolve around more than air transport and oil and gas. Guyana aims to become a major regional hub for food security, energy security, and the provision of environmental services. We would like to see increased cooperation between Guyana and Great Britain in these areas, and it is my wish that your visit here will lead to a qualitative shift in our economic relations.”

He reiterated Guyana’s appreciation for Britain’s definitive and unambiguous support for free and fair elections in Guyana as well as its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Guyana’s Republic.

United Kingdom Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, David Rutley, said that the relationship between Guyana and the UK is a strong one.

“What is really clear is there are many more opportunities ahead of us… this is a really strong relationship and the other thing that I love is it builds on some momentum that’s being seen here. Of course, there are growth opportunities but our relationship is built on shared values. It’s built on shared history often and on people to people, relationships… so together we can do a huge amount of other things.”

He related that the partnership agreement is phenomenal and said that they are going to build to make it an even more meaningful one.   Khan said that as a dual British-Guyanese citizen, the moment highlights a new era in the relationship between Guyana and the UK.

“It offers the prospect of an incredible future in partnership between the two countries which have a deep shared history. It’s a win for Guyana and a win for the diaspora. That’s exactly what we see BritCham as, being a win for Guyana and a win for Great Britain.”

Khan related that BritCham is present to provide a forum for persons looking to invest in Guyana from the UK and vice versa. They will create an active network and forum, through which companies and individuals can speak openly and freely to share experiences and ideas.

“It is no secret that when you enter into a new territory, experience helps you navigate…so, what we here at BritCham are looking forward to do on the ground here in Guyana is helping the British business community that are coming in navigate and vice versa.”

He related that they also have members in the UK for Guyanese businesses looking to venture into the UK markets.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller said that this is a “huge time” for the UK, given that British Airways recently made their first flight to Guyana.
“I think it is going to be important for trade and for tourism, but tonight is an important leap forward in our relationship, not just British Airways, but particularly the launch of the British Chamber of Commerce.”

 

 

Oil sales lift UK trade with Guyana to over US$1 billion

29 March 2023,   by Denis Chabrol

Chairman of BritCham Faizal Khan, Deputy British High Commissioner to Guyana Judy Omasan Kpogho , British High Commissioner Jane Miller and Britain’s Minister for Caribbean and Latin America, David Rutley.

United Kingdom trade with Guyana last year reached its highest value of over 1 billion pounds sterling, largely due to the South American producer’s sale of crude oil to Britain.

Britain’s Department for Business and Trade’s latest fact sheet dated March 28, 2023, valued exports and imports of goods and services between the two countries at £1.1 billion pounds sterling (approx: US$1.3 billion/GY$285.2 billion).

A breakdown of the UK official figures indicates that up to the third quarter of 2022, oil imports from Guyana totalled £548.8 million or 95.4 percent of all UK goods imported from this country. That was followed by cereals (£6.6 million or 1.2%), beverages (£5.5 million or 0.9%), sugar (£3.4 million or 0.6%) and metal ores & scrap (£2.2 million or 0.4%).

Chairman of the newly-formed Britain-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (BritCham), Faizal Khan boasted that for the first time trade between the two nations has reached this level. “Last year, trade between the United Kingdom and Guyana surpassed a billion pounds sterling for the first time in history,” he told the launch of BritCham.

Mr Khan was optimistic that that figure would grow in the coming years. “We are very confident those figures will only continue to grow and BritCham will do everything we can to try and facilitate that,” he told the event which was attended by Britain’s Minister for Caribbean and Latin America, David Rutley.

The official UK government trade data shows that during 2022, UK imports from Guyana amounted to £607 million, in current prices, in the four quarters to the end of the third quarter of 2022- an increase of 1796.9% or £575 million- compared to the four quarters to the end of the third quarter of 2021.

Mr Rutley said the UK and Guyana will “build” on the partnership and momentum in keeping with shared values. “There are growth opportunities but our relationship it’s built on shared values, it’s built in shared history often and on people-to-people relationships.”

UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller reflected that the idea of BritCham dates back to about two years ago in a conversation with Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin that led to follow up talks with people who have British links.

 Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Britain’s Minister for the Caribbean and Latin America David Rutley with members of the Britain-Guyana Chamber of Commerce.

“They convinced me that because of the exciting economic growth in this country, there is space for everybody and a space for a British Chamber specifically to encourage further investment of UK businesses here to Guyana. The British brand is strong and there are huge opportunities,” she said.

The BritCham Chairman said that the organisation would help facilitate Guyanese and UK businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. “We are here to promote and facilitate trade, investment and commerce between the United Kingdom and Guyana. We are for business and business people…BritCham is for serious business people. It’s a forum to meet like-minded individuals; many like myself understanding the culture of the United Kingdom and Guyana,” he said.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips remarked that Guyana “remains wedded to the values of democracy, respect for the rule of law, respect for international law and respect for human rights.” He thanked the UK for its support for free and fair elections in Guyana and the territorial integrity of this former British colony.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is considering Guyana’s request for a declaration that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award that settled the land boundary with Venezuela is valid.

 

 

Guyana can now inspect helidecks

March 28, 2023

Guyana is now able to inspect and issue helideck licenses, further equipping citizens with the necessary skills to significantly develop its burgeoning oil and gas sector. A helideck is a landing platform on a vessel or offshore structure, which allows helicopters to land and take off.

At the ceremony, GCAA Director General Egbert Field emphasised the importance of having the first Guyanese helideck inspector and the significant role it plays in the oil and gas sector.

“Today we can happily say that Guyana has its first helideck inspector after the last inspection … The civil aviation forms an integral part of that development and we are now on the verge of becoming a very big oil-producing nation. In moving forward with that, the elements to support our oil production has got to be put in place.”

The oil and gas industry both offshore and onshore is dependent on the service of helicopters in its operations for a number of applications including crew changes and fire and rescue operations.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill emphasised the fact that the inspection was carried out by a Guyanese inspector, is a testimony to the capacity that the country has developed.

“There is a pride that Guyana can do things and Guyana is going places. When we had to get a helideck inspection a few years ago we had to engage a foreign partner, Ghana, to be exact to do that work for us. We didn’t have to go that same route again of having a foreign partner to do that inspection, we now have the capacity in the country…And that is very important,” the minister said.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to upskilling the country’s human resources as greater emphasis will be placed to ensure junior members are mentored.
Adrian Bassier paid tribute to Guyana and Ghana for his achievement.

“I am honoured but I am also humbled, I see this not as just a personal achievement but it is an achievement for Guyana for the regulator of the aviation industry in Guyana too and it is a special day and I share this with not only my DG [director general] and my colleagues, but also the other people in Ghana, the inspector there that made available their expertise to assist me.“

Minister Edghill said the government is making significant strides in the oil and gas sector and there is no doubt that Guyana will continue to advance in the years to come.

 

 

 

GCAA grants SBM Offshore helideck licence for Prosperity FPSO

-first to be certified by Guyanese inspector

March 29, 2023

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has granted SBM Offshore a licence for the operation of its helideck onboard the Prosperity, the country’s third floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel which is expected to begin producing oil later this year.This is the first FPSO helideck to have been certified by a Guyanese inspector.The helideck is a platform on the vessels that supports the landing and takeoff of helicopters that are used mainly to transport personnel and some categories of materials.

 

Inaugural BA flight co-pilot has Guyanese ancestry

March 29, 2023

British Airways captain, Marc Chan, who has Guyanese roots, co-piloted the inaugural flight by the airline and beamed with pride having completed the task with Captain Alan Brooks, who also has Caribbean links.

“It will mark my first steps on to the land of my father and is one of the highlights of my flying career, which started 37 years ago in the RAF Air Cadets,” Chan said in a statement by British Airways announcing the commencement of their flights on the route.

Chan explained his father Michael Chan-Choong of Suddie, Essequibo Coast grew up dreaming of becoming a pilot.

 

 

Agriculture Ministry receives FAO, WWF manuals

March 30, 2023

Guyana continues to make significant strides towards expanding its fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture received three manuals to boost production from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Wildlife Fund Guianas (WWF) to advance the sector.

Representative of World Wildlife Fund- Guianas (WWF), Aiesha Williams handed over the manual to Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha.  The manuals include the Marine Fisheries Management and Seabob Fisheries Plan 2022 – 2027, and Brackish Water Shrimp Training Manual, which will aid the sector’s development over the next five years.

FAO’s Country Representative, Dr Gillian Smith handed the manual to Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha underlined the importance of the manuals which will help to boost productivity as the government continues to invest heavily in the sector to increase production. He noted that a scientific approach is critical to expanding the sector.

“We have seen a steep increase in catches, especially in the seabob industry. We have seen a number of areas… that are very important for us, almost 100 per cent in the seabob industry…That shows massive improvement for us. The future is bright for the fishing sector. We have to continue to support the sector.“

The government continues to support fisherfolk to find new markets and facilities for their produce as food security remains high on the government’s agenda to achieve the 25 by 2025 goal.

FAO’s Country Representative, Dr Gillian Smith lauded the government as it continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability of the fisheries sector.

The implementation of the policies is important and requires support and collaboration among the various partners.
“To ensure that people have good livelihoods that take you into the years to come. Plans are important…We know that this industry has a lot of potential… and it has also begun to show that potential. We are showing that this manual will help to increase and accelerate the implementation that is being seen on the ground.”

Dr Smith noted that the various agencies will help the fisherfolk and Guyana’s developmental agenda.

Representative of WWF, Aiesha Williams said that today marks an important partnership to develop the marine fisheries management plan.

The fisheries department also contributed towards the development of the management plan which captures several areas that are important in the sustainability of the sector.

“It even addresses several areas, gender, climate change, and inclusion in the fisheries sector. It sets out objectives, outcomes, and actions where sustainability, good management, enforcement to ensure that there is a productive sector that really maintains fish stock in a healthy manner.” Williams emphasised.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha handed over safety equipment to Sooknan Takchand
Minister Mustapha handed over safety equipment to fisherfolk which will help to enhance their safety.

Fisherman, for some 53 years, Sooknan Takchand from Region Three noted how happy the fisherfolk are to be supported by the ministry to develop the sector.

“I am happy to hear about the progress made here today for the fishermen. And that we can be a part of it. We are going to work along with it since we want to better the industry.”

Permanent Secretary, Delma Nedd, Chief Fisheries Officer, Denzil Roberts, and representatives of the Guyana Trawlers Association were in attendance.

 

 

NEW STABROEK  OIL STRIKE

2023, 04/26

The US-based Hess Corporation reported  another oil discovered in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

“The Lancetfish-1 well encountered approximately 92 feet of oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was drilled in 5,843 feet of water by the Noble Don Taylor and is located approximately four miles southeast of the Fangtooth discovery,” Hess said.

Hess, which holds a 30 per cent stake in the consortium led by Exxon Mobil Corporation has made more than 30 discoveries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country’s offshore waters since 2015.

The consortium sold nine cargos of crude oil from Guyana in the first quarter ended March 31, compared with two cargos in the year-ago quarter. Kokwari-1 exploration well, which was drilled during the quarter, did not encounter commercial quantities of hydrocarbons.

Hess has since raised its full-year production outlook by nearly three per cent to 365,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) to 375,000 boepd, citing strong operational performance during the first three months of 2023.
For the reported quarter, net production rose 35.5 per cent to 374,000 boepd, primarily due to higher output in Guyana and North Dakota’s Bakken shale field.

NEW YORK, Apr 26, CMC