Opinion
The Case for Renegotiation
Introduction This is the case for renegotiation of the Petroleum Agreements between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil (“Guyana-Exxon agreements”). In my article dated 8 December 2017[1], I wrote extensively on the nature and types of stability clauses and their pros and cons. Most notably, what the Model Petroleum Contract describes as a Stability Clause…
With its poor track record…SARA’s chances of successful oil blocks probe slim – Dr. Mangal
“If they don’t do a good job, they could end up blessing something that is actually bad. They may say ‘yes we checked. There is no evidence so we are not doing anything.’ So what you have…is a government entity that has allowed the oil companies to defraud the country…” – Dr. Mangal Even though…
First oil or fool’s gold – Guyana’s proposed oil venture and the global economy
It is almost impossible to open a paper these days without reading about “first oil”. There is talk of the ‘Dutch disease’ and a sovereign wealth trust fund. The World Bank is lending Guyana US$20M to write some laws and improve governance for the petroleum sector. The government glibly assures the population that oil will…
IS THE INCOMING OIL INDUSTRY ONE THAT EXCLUDES OR INCLUDES?
The current modus operandi in the incoming Guyanese oil industry will affect how the poor and the working class respond to it. Today across Guyana, this oil industry is seen as an elite project. It is seen by the population as those guys in suits who jets off to Houston to strike deal for themselves; it is…
Guyanese must get maximum from oil blocks even if it means renegotiating, rescinding -Jan Mangal tells Houston conference
Renegotiate, rescind, reimburse, then auction off so that Guyana reaps the maximum value from its oil blocks, is the advice that petroleum expert Dr Jan Mangal drilled into those who attended his presentation at the Guyana Petro-leum Summit in Houston, Texas on Thursday. He also warned that if the contentious Exxon-Mobil deal is preserved as…
Guyana needs you to break its resource curse
Exxon the American oil giant recently reported their 13th oil discovery in Guyana’s Stabroek block. The confirmed barrels of oil in the Stabroek block is 5.5 billion barrels. UK’s Tullow estimates that the Orinduik block holds 4 billion barrels of oil. There are more blocks like Canje and Kaieteur yet to be explored. Even if no more…
Seventeen reasons why the ExxonMobil contract should be renegotiated
In my opinion this contract should be considered null and void for the following interim reasons:1)This contract was not made in good faith, good intention, is biased and is not consistent with minimum international contracting requirements, practice, guidelines, procedures and laws.2)This contract is a production sharing contract/royalty (PSA), where Guyana is technically a partner, a…
Energy Dept. unfit to represent Guyana if it can’t stand up to Exxon, others – Dr. Mangal
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…
What happened with Kaieteur, Canje Blocks was daylight robbery – Dr. Mangal
Oil and Gas Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal, is of the firm conviction that the award of the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks by the Donald Ramotar administration just days before the General and Regional Elections 2015 amounts to daylight robbery. During an exclusive interview with this publication, the former Petroleum Advisor to the Government said, “The…
Land ownership, use and some distribution considerations
Several weeks ago I started a series of columns on the ethnic security dilemmas (ESDs). I also briefly reviewed Minister Carl Greenidge’s book on land settlements, and discussed the issues of income and wealth (asset) distribution. All these issues are connected. Before I close the series, I want to share some findings on land ownership…