Opinion
Guyana must “bite the bullet” and pay for highly skilled professionals
Petroleum Advisor to Guyana’s President, Dr. Jan Mangal, says the South American country’s government needs to take firm steps towards “opening the doors” to professionals as part of a policy to attract skills which are badly needed in the emerging oil and gas industry. “The Government really needs to bite the bullet and pay for…
Focus on the oil revenue
…Petroleum advisor urges citizens Government’s Petroleum Advisor Dr Jan Manga believes that Guyanese need to have realistic expectations of the impending oil-and-gas industry and urged that focus be placed on infrastructural development and investing the revenue from the resource on the citizens. Speaking with reporters Wednesday, Dr Mangal said with news of the oil finds,…
‘Can’t bare all’
…Gov’t insists full release of Exxon contract has wide implications MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman said government has been advised by external advisors and lawyers that it should not release the full contract with United States (U.S.) oil giant, Exxon Mobil, noting that a number of extenuating and external issues are being attended to,…
Oil above politics
…Petroleum adviser says oil-and-gas policies must transcend election cycles THERE is need for Guyana to enforce legislation, policies and regulations in the emerging oil-and-gas sector that cannot be easily influenced by politicians, presidential adviser on Petroleum Dr Jan Mangal told reporters on Wednesday. Dr Mangal, who has a Doctorate in Offshore Geotechnical Engineering from the…
Competitive bidding is the best approach for the award of oil exploration leases
A recent article in the Guyana Times ‘Minister’s relatives, friends now applying for oil licences, 2017-09-14’ makes reference to Dr Jan Mangal, Petroleum Adviser in the Ministry of the Presidency. The article raises concerns with a type of process used in the award of petroleum leases or blocks, that is the “one-on-one negotiation” or “open…
Journalists need to become more adept at investigating conflicts of interest in the oil sector
My term as Petroleum Adviser to President Granger began in March 2017, whereas the re-negotiation of the contract for the Stabroek Block was performed about a year earlier (early part of 2016). I have not negotiated contracts between any oil company and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. President Granger has been clear that his priority…
Creativity in oil contracts?
Who is the owner of the “proven oil reserves” once the contract is signed between the oil company and the host country? In a typical contract, the “reserves” are monetized and this value is entered on the balance sheet of the Oil Company. The share price of the Company is maintained and traded based on…
The government is engaged with oil companies whose interests are very different from their own
There is a joke that you may have heard in some accounting classes. During an interview, prospective candidates were asked what was 2+2. The engineer answered 4, the journalist 4, and the lawyer 4. The accountant leaned over and whispered, “I can make it any number you want”. There is a great point behind this…