Guyanese President David Granger says his administration has identified a roadmap towards the creation of a Department of Energy (DoE) under the South American country’s Georgetown based Ministry of the Presidency (MotP).
He gave the brief update on Wednesday, speaking to reporters gathered at State House for an accreditation ceremony, saying “we have a roadmap.”
According to the Head-of-State, “we have to identify personnel, we have to identify buildings and we have to start advertising to attract the quality personnel that can lead this important Department into the future…So we are being very careful.”
He said, “I’m very confident that by the first of May there will be some further announcement but right now the preparatory work is being done.”
The Guyanese President in acknowledging “It is going to be a challenge” said “this is an international industry; we’re aiming at a world class industry so we have to get the best persons.”
Mr. Granger told reporters, “…as you know, Guyana has no experience in the field…and we have a very small petroleum unit which is now in the Ministry of Natural Resources.”
As such, “we obviously have to attract the best people from around the world…So we are not attempting to avoid that responsibility,” he stated
Once established, President Granger will assume direct Executive oversight of the Department of Energy, with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, assuming the National Assembly portfolio.
The quintet of Ministers tasked with collaborative ministerial oversight over the industry comprises Ministers of Finance Winston Jordan, State, Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, Business, Dominic Gaskin and Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. They are tasked with finalizing the details of the Department’s establishment.
This includes organizational structure, accompanying legislation to be introduced for the sector, negotiations with potential investors, exploration and production licenses, public communications responsibilities, the engagement of technical experts and capacity building measures among other responsibilities.
