Guyana’s Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall has revealed that a draft for the long-awaited Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Responsibility Bill has been completed.
During the January 7, 2025, airing of his weekly television program, Issues in the News, Nandlall shared that the draft had been forwarded to the Office of the President, specifically the Office of the Vice President, for review and potential adjustments.
“The bill is now completed and has been sent to the Office of the President for its examination and further action,” Nandlall said, explaining that this now paves the way for discussions about possible changes.
According to the government’s 2024 mid-year report, the new oil spill bill will be tabled in Parliament later this year.
“This bill, while addressing other areas, will deal with the management of and financial responsibility for oil spills and environmental damages from petroleum activities,” the report stated.
The government has prioritized the introduction of the legislation, especially following Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s remarks in early 2024 about an oil spill in Trinidad and Tobago, where a tug and barge ran aground, causing significant environmental damage.
The disaster resulted in estimated damages of up to US$20 million, and the Trinidadian government struggled to identify the parties responsible, leaving taxpayers to shoulder the cost.
Closer to home, concerns have been raised about the potential consequences of an oil spill at ExxonMobil’s offshore operations in Guyana.
However, the company has put in place several layers of protection, including a US$600 million ‘per occurrence’ environmental liability insurance policy, and a US$2 billion parent/affiliate guarantee.
Also in 2024, a capping stack was brought in-country for deployment, in the event of a well blowout.
