Director of Guyana’s Department of Energy Dr. Mark Bynoe says while the current political climate and parliamentary inactivity are concerning, the Department is forging ahead with its work including recruiting key staff and pursuing a number of initiatives, in preparation for first oil.
Speaking on a radio programme – ‘Guyana’s oil and you’ – on Thursday September 26, Dr. Bynoe provided updates on many of the critical areas of responsibility for the agency, which is just over one year old.
In addition to staff recruitment, he spoke of the Department’s collaboration with sister government agencies and cooperation with international donors on capacity building and technical assistance, as Guyana prepares to take on the title of oil producing nation.
“The political situation has not impacted the work of the Department directly because much of what the Department has been involved with, is largely able to be executed,” Dr Bynoe stated.
He said through donor funded projects with partners like the World Bank and the IDB the Department has been able to press ahead with its work programme.
He noted that in preparation for first oil there are some things that the Department has to advance and ramp-up and they aim to ensure these are in line with the framework that is being established.
The Department has completed a roadmap which lays out all of the critical elements for it to function effectively. This roadmap outlines a range of options by which the Department can operate. He noted that it speaks to capacity building and to whether the Department is grown organically or through outsourcing. The roadmap also speaks to data management – whether to have a data repository or have this function outsourced. He said it also speaks to the marketing aspects of the Department’s functions and outlines the options of setting up a national oil company as against an established marketing agent. He explained that the roadmap will examine the advantages and disadvantages of each of the options considered, going forward.
PSA Procedure Manual
Dr. Bynoe said the Department has just completed a PSA procedure manual which is intended to help it follow what are some of the reporting requirements of the operators. “We have also through assistance from the multilateral agency and the IDB completed our organizational structure, SOPs and procedure manuals… so things have been advancing and we hope that this will continue,” he said.
Calling the PSA procedure manual, a huge accomplishment, he said that it allows the Department to have a platform that indicates when certain requirements are needed from the operator rather than the Department having to map that out for itself. This was done with the assistance of the IDB and an international law firm.
Measuring Guyana’s oil
Dr. Bynoe expressed confidence that the agency will be ready – along with the GGMC – to ensure that the oil produced will be accurately measured and that all of the equipment properly calibrated to ensure accuracy.
Marketing Guyana’s oil
He confirmed that Guyana has chosen the path of marketing its own oil as opposed to having the operator do this. He confirmed the Department is to recruit a marketing expert who will provide guidance in terms of sourcing a marketing agent and entering into the most optimum arrangement for the benefit of the South American country.
