The previous column critically analysed the cost components of the production sharing agreement with ExxonMobil. We noted that the legal aspects did not cover all the possible cost scenarios, which is crucial for PSA-type contracts. In keeping with the theme of this series of essays, I argue the legal protection against cost uncertainty does not…
Is there any clause in the ExxonMobil Agreement that is in Guyana’s favour? In the eyes of the fledgling coalition Government, the “generous” two percent royalty and a 50/50 split of profit oil was one. But a closer look by local commentators shows that even this is a poisoned chalice. In his continued analysis of…
ExxonMobil’s Kimberly Brasington, Senior Director, Public & Government Affairs, recently made several comments to the media and at public/private gatherings in Guyana that give the impression to Guyanese of being condescending and pompous. In response to Ms. Brasington remarks to the Guyanese public; I have presented below a few questions for Ms. Brasington to answer….
Economist Tarron Khemraj says that from all of the analyses he has seen of the oil deal for the Stabroek Block, Guyana will end up getting just around 37% of the gross revenues while ExxonMobil and its partners will cream off the rest. See more here
The previous six columns asked the question whether Guyana could escape the natural resource curse. We have looked at the issue from various dimensions. In particular, we have observed that initial conditions prevailing in Guyana must be taken into account when making such a prediction. The present structure of the production economy and limited economic…
King Midas, it was said, had only to touch something for it to turn to gold. The Minister in charge of Guyana’s oil has perfected this talent in reverse: – The Minister’s 2016 re-negotiation of the PSA with ExxonMobil is a disgrace. It has put his government in a serious predicament and could prove a…
Over the past few years, the Guyanese economy revealed an economic illness that is tied to the state of the six sisters (rice, sugar, bauxite, gold, seafood, and forestry). There are tremendous external headwinds as the rest of the world pull ahead leaving the Guyanese economy in a sort of no-man’s land. Real GDP growth…
Melinda Janki asks some pertinent questions about the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for ExxonMobil’s Liza Phase 1 project. She identifies ‘data deficiencies’ in the profiling of marine species, compares the EIA to the requirements stipulated in Guyana’s Environmental Protection Act and analyses the oil spill scenarios in the EIA against the benchmark the actual spill…
