Guyanese aviation company, Trans Guyana Airways, has been working with several local firms to provide services and key support to the oil and gas industry. The aviation company said through the support of ExxonMobil Aviation Services, it has been able to meet international standards and expand its clientele in the new oil producing country.
“We’ve been working closely with ExxonMobil Aviation Services for over two years. They’ve provided us with a lot of training and helped us to get up to the very stringent aviation standards that ExxonMobil holds, and they continue to audit us on a yearly basis to make sure that we’re on the same page,” Commercial Manager Alexandra Correia said.
She noted that it is important for local business operations to reach international standards in order to provide services to the oil and gas sector.
“My advice to local companies looking to get involved in the oil and gas industry would be to make sure you get up to international standards. We’re coming into a situation now where you either get up to international standards or you get left behind,” she stated.
Trans Guyana Airways, which has been in existence for over 64 years, has 11 aircraft and offers a number of different services to Guyana’s newest sector.
“We here at Trans Guyana Airways help support the oil and gas industry by helping with the logistics and movement of personnel in and out of the country, particularly to regional locations like Suriname, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago,” Correia explained.
Additionally, they offer ground handling support for Bristow Helicopters Inc., the company that transports persons to and from the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel offshore Guyana. Trans Guyana also provides Bristow with a base for their operations in the country at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.
The aviation company’s business with the oil sector has resulted in spinoff opportunities for other local service providers.
“In order to provide the services that we do to the oil and gas industry, we work with other local companies from a wide array of different industries, including marketing, engineering and construction,” the Manager disclosed. She added that the local tourism sector has benefitted from increased interest in Guyana and persons utilising the aviation services provided by Trans Guyana.
Correia’s advice for higher standards to be implemented echoes the call of many contractors and oil companies over the years.
The Centre for Local Business Development offers a mentorship programme that is geared towards preparing local businesses for opportunities in the sector and helping them to take their standards to the next level. As a result of the programme, several Guyanese companies have already acquired the coveted ISO certification.
To date, over 2600 local businesses have registered on the Centre’s Business Registration Portal.
