Until the Department of Energy (DoE) is prepared to challenge huge companies like ExxonMobil and French Oil Major, Total, then it cannot be trusted to look out for Guyana’s interests. This is according to Oil and Gas Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal.
During an exclusive interview with this newspaper yesterday, Dr. Mangal commented that the DoE does not have the capacity to manage the nation’s oil industry, since it needs many more experienced petroleum professionals. In addition to this, the former Petroleum Advisor to the Government said that the Department’s stance on numerous important issues such as the need to renegotiate the lopsided contract with Exxon for the Stabroek Block, have not been encouraging.
The Consultant said, “The DoE has to be adversarial, since that is how it works across the negotiating table. It needs to be championing a re-negotiation of the Stabroek Block. It needs to hold back on issuing the permits for the Liza Phase Two Project and it need to rescind the award of the Kaieteur and Canje blocks, etc.”
Dr. Mangal continued, “The DoE is allowing one company to monopolize Guyana’s offshore acreage, i.e. ExxonMobil. This should not be allowed. Guyana will be further exploited if one company owns too much and ExxonMobil already has too many interests in acreage.”
He added, “They will all exploit weak countries where government officials care more about their bank accounts, or protecting their jobs, than about representing their people. Total and ExxonMobil farmed in to the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks, and we know these two blocks were most likely ‘stolen’ from the Guyanese people. Hence Total and ExxonMobil are complicit in the issue with these two blocks.”
See more here: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2019/04/24/energy-dept-unfit-to-represent-guyana-if-it-cant-stand-up-to-exxon-others-dr-mangal/