The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has hired an American company; Rampal US Corporation to assess and certify an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the ExxonMobil Liza phase II development.
This was confirmed on Friday by Guyanese Minister of State, Joseph Harmon who briefed media operatives, on the contract for consultancy services “for the review of an environmental impact of the Esso Exploration and Petroleum Guyana Limited (EEPGL) Liza phase II development project.”
According to Minister Harmon, “EEPGL is seeking environmental authorization for the second phase of development of the Liza field in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block of its offshore Oil and Gas (O&G) concession.”
The contract sum, according to Mr. Harmon, is $40M and is to be executed under the aegis of the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency as the agency to certify the EIA studies submitted for approval.
“It is the EPA certification that is important,” Minister Harmon said as he explained “what this company is doing is filling in on some capacity deficiencies at the EPA.”
The Guyanese Minister of State—speaking with members of the media at the Ministry of the Presidency in Georgetown—said, “It is basically bringing in capacity to help the EPA …not basically the EPA reneging on its responsibility, it is under the supervision of the EPA.”
ExxonMobil Guyana said back in January that it had submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental authorization as part of the company’s plans for a potential production concept for Liza Phase 2.
“Given we receive all the permits and approvals necessary, production start up could be expected in 2022,” Kimberly Brasington, ExxonMobil’s Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs in Guyana had told OilNOW.
