— meets with Canadian Consultant, relevant agencies

(Ministry of Natural Resources) As the new PPP/C Government aims to ensure Guyana secures the best deal for its oil resources, the Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Vickram Bharrat, has advanced the process towards the review of the Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s (EEPGL) Payara contract. 

Minister Bharrat, on Saturday, met with the independent Canadian Consultant, along with the heads of relevant agencies; including Dr. Mark Bynoe – Department of Energy, Dr. Vincent Adams, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Mr. Newell Dennison of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

According to the Minister, the new PPP/C Government is conducting a holistic review of the Payara Development Project. This assessment will play a pivotal role in informing the decision making relating to the application for permits by the oil company.

He emphasised that the review process will take a multi-agency approach which includes the GGMC, EPA and other technical officers of the Petroleum Division, to ensure maximum benefits are derived for all Guyanese. The Minister anticipates that the review will directly address concerns raised previously, which will not only benefit the oil companies but ensure economic empowerment for all Guyanese.

The Natural Resources Minister also pointed out that the review is in keeping with the President’s commitment to transparency and accountability within the natural resources sector, particularly the Oil and Gas Sector.

Minister Bharrat expressed appreciation, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, to the Government of Canada, who responded promptly to this collaborative effort. The independent Consultant has been engaged by the Government of Guyana to review the Payara Field Development Plan. 

The Canadian Consultant is Ms. Alison Redford – Queens Counsel. Ms. Redford and her team have already begun the process of review.

End

Note: Bio – Ms. Alison Redford QC 

Alison Redford QC now serves as a World Bank Advisor on Gas Sector Reform in Pakistan, and also as an advisor in other jurisdictions, as they develop new approaches to upstream regulation and community engagement. She has worked on several bilateral and multilateral projects, particularly in energy sector regulation, and has worked in multiple countries on behalf of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the European Union.