Opinion
I said a national oil company should not be pursued for at least five years
Regarding the article in SN dated 02-Jul-2018 titled: `National oil company for Guyana would be a disaster – Jan Mangal’ This article does not reflect the two posts on social media from which I believe they were based. I made two posts on 28-Jun-2018 on the subject of national oil companies (NOC). I said a…
National oil company for Guyana would be a disaster – Jan Mangal
The creation of a National Oil Company (NOC) will be “a disaster” for this country warns former Government Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal who says that Guyana should learn from the experiences of sister Caribbean countries, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. However, the government says that it has been advised by a number of…
As petroleum adviser, most of my time was spent challenging proposals and strategies of some high-level gov’t officials
On the 18-Jun-2018 the Kaieteur News indicated that Dr Jan Mangal (petroleum adviser to the President from Mar-2017 to Mar-2018) recommended the investigation of the award of petroleum blocks which occurred under the previous government. Then a few days later on the 22-Jun-2018 the Kaieteur News ran an article which suggested Dr Mangal was criticising…
Inconsistencies in Rystad Energy report
On June 1st, 2018 the Stabroek News published an article discussing a report by Norway’s Rystad Energy. Other Caribbean newspapers have published similar articles. However, there appears to be inconsistencies in the report that need clarification. Here are a few points of concern: It was stated that Rystad is forecasting 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) in…
The real issue is the threat which this oil arrangement poses to the country
I refer to the letter, `Why is Janki so opposed to the ExxonMobil deal?’ under the name of Clement Smith. I should have thought the answers to that question were already abundantly clear. I have repeatedly said that Minister Trotman’s behaviour was incompetent, irresponsible, naïve and foolish in the oil arrangement he agreed with Esso…
Court begins hearing appeal over challenge to Exxon’s partners
The Guyana Court of Appeal yesterday commenced hearing the appeal filed by Ramon Gaskin, who has sought to challenge the granting of a petroleum production licence to the partners of the local Exxon subsidiary, Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd (Hess) and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Ltd (Nexen), as he contends that they have no environmental permits…
Economists, Janki pessimistic about oil future -around US$900m in costs already racked up even before first barrel
Guyana has struck oil but for the panelists at a discussion on Wednesday there is no reason to celebrate. In fact one panelist argued that there are actually grounds for saying that government acted illegally in signing to such terms. On Wednesday, the Moray House Trust held a panel discussion where economists Collin Constantine and…
We need many more local activists on oil and gas matters
On May 17th, 2018 the Stabroek News published a letter by Mr Clement Smith in which he questioned the motives of A Fair Deal for Guyana with respect to challenging the oil contract. In that letter he stated, “But the saddest part of all is that local activists are getting involved.” We disagree with Mr…
Focused action needed now for a 10% royalty from Exxon/Esso
Guyana agrees to pay Exxon’s Esso – a US$460 Million Bonus, and labels it precontract costs, which is 2,500% higher than US$18 Million that was received by the Government of Guyana and referenced as a “Signing Bonus.” The reference is a misnomer to the extremities of accounting classification – Copper Signing Bonus is a more…