I was outraged when I read the Department of Public Information (DPI) release that the “Gas-to-Energy project, when constructed and operationalised will significantly reduce the emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere, thereby improving Guyana’s status as a good environmental steward.” As a former Chemistry teacher of long standing I cannot remain silent in the…
In response to questions from journalist Neil Marks on News Room’s Insider, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said the fact that a person does not know about the feasibility studies does not mean that they do not exist. My response is, “Well, sir, please show them to us. And by this we mean a proper feasibility study…
A vigorous debate is ongoing regarding the operationalisation of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF). In his last Stabroek News column, Mr Christopher Ram cites legal reasons why the NRF Act is not in operation. He also raises the possibility that the government may not want to operationalise the existing Act since it was passed in…
On Sunday we read that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that government has nothing to hide and will be transparent in all oil and gas-related matters, and that he has suggested that the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) set up a portal for the publishing of real-time information, but that initiative has not been taken…
Why can’t the government publish production data on the Ministry of Natural Resources website? It has been weeks now that the government has been saying they need a dedicated website to publish oil production data. Why can’t the government publish the oil production data on the Ministry of Natural Resources website? It already publishes the oil…
Section 12 (1) (a) of the ExxonMobil production sharing agreement signed by then Minister Raphael Trotman on 27 June 2016 provides that ‘The Associated Gas produced from any Oil Field within the Contract Area shall be with priority used for the purposes related to the operations of production and production enhancement of Oil Fields, such as…
I have long considered Steve Coll’s book, “Private Empire ExxonMobil and American Power”, the bible on ExxonMobil. All government officials and ministers with responsibilities for the oil portfolio should take the time to do a serious study of this book. This book was published in 2012. Minister Trotman had renegotiated the Oil Contract in 2016…
By Alfred Bhulai, Janette Bulkan, Jocelyn Dow, Danuta Radzik, Vanda Radzik, Troy Thomas, Maya Trotz This “In The Diaspora” article describes how the Guyana Constitution with 2003 Amendments and the Environmental Protection Act of 1996 address the oil and gas sector, and provides recommendations for how, as Guyanese, we can use them to safeguard a…
Several observers have noted that the account in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not constitute the National Resource Fund (NRF). The account in the Federal Reserve is merely holding the oil revenues – at almost zero percent yield – until the Guyana government operationalises the NRF (hereafter “the Fund”). Operationalisation of the…
