Exxon refuses invitation to local public forum, but attends one in Trinidad

Jul 02, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....nds-one-in-trinidad/

ExxonMobil is not drilling for oil in Trinidad and Tobago. It is looking to produce oil in Guyana.

In fact, the company has received all that it needs to start oil production in Guyana—its Environmental Permit and Production Licence.

However, it has, on two occasions, refused to appear at a public forum in Guyana. However, it has found the time to prepare a presentation that was delivered by Country Manager Jeff Simons in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year.

The presentation was about Guyana’s oil and the plans of the company.

Why would Exxon refuse to engage Guyanese on oil found in Guyana but feels comfortable talking to Trinidadians on the matter? That question remains unanswered. Not even the organization that invited ExxonMobil—Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA)—can say why the company refused to show.

Sources at GOGA say that the company was invited twice—orally and in writing.

GOGA said that in February, ExxonMobil made “favorable comments” about the organization’s initiative to hold a lecture series to sensitize Guyanese.

GOGA said that at that point the opportunity was seized to invite ExxonMobil to make a contribution to the series, but nothing materialized. After that oral attempt failed, GOGA sent a written invitation but again, ExxonMobil declined.

Earlier this year, Simons went to Trinidad and entertained the press there.

However, even on that occasion, some questions were sidelined. The Oil and Gas Journal reported on what occurred in Trinidad.

An article written by Curtis Williams referred to ExxonMobil’s “giant Liza discovery offshore Guyana.”

That piece quoted Simons as saying in addition to the average production of 100,000 barrels of oil per day that Liza will provide when it begins flowing in 2020, “it also expects to produce 165 MMscfd of natural gas that will be mainly used for re-injection into the wells.”

Simmons told those in attendance at Trinidad’ annual energy conference that the company will use a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit to produce the oil and would then export it. It raised the possibility of the oil being refined in nearby Trinidad and Tobago.

He told delegates that the company planned to drill 17 production wells with subsea tiebacks to the FPSO and that ExxonMobil was confident it could meet the early start up deadline because of its use of “cutting edge” technology.

Simmons said no decision had been taken as of yet on whether ExxonMobil would use one or two drill ships during the development stage.

He noted that ExxonMobil has always been committed to the maximum use of local content but admitted that during production very few jobs will be created in Guyana because a total of 60 people will be required for the production of the oil.

ExxonMobil’s Country Manager said the company has had to use Trinidad and its services during the exploration phase due to the Caribbean island’s relatively close proximity, its long history in oil and gas, and its capacity to service the industry.

See full Oil and Gas Journal report at http://www.ogj.com/articles/20...l-official-says.html

Demerara_Guy posted:
Exxon refuses invitation to local public forum, but attends one in Trinidad
Jul 02, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....nds-one-in-trinidad/

Why would Exxon refuse to engage Guyanese on oil found in Guyana but feels comfortable talking to Trinidadians on the matter?
See full Oil and Gas Journal report at http://www.ogj.com/articles/20...l-official-says.html

Quite simple. Trinidadians have the expertise and Guyanese don't and Exxon isn't in this business for charitable purposes.

FYI Guyanese cannot wail about this given that large numbers of Guyanese professionals have worked in other parts of CARICOM under CSME rules.

Maybe Guyanese might now be more sympathetic to the islanders who wailed about swarms of Guyanese invading their little islands.

If I were a Guyanese, rather than screaming for access to functions that they cannot perform, as they lack the specific expertise I would be looking at joint venture opportunities with T&T firms. In fact this stupid government can and should be arranging a tour to T&T to facilitate this.

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