Transparency, access and supplier readiness were at the center of discussions on Thursday when industry and government officials addressed the ‘Let’s Talk Local Content’ forum.
The forum was held on day three (February 19) of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.
Hosted by SBM Offshore Guyana, the session in its third year brought together suppliers seeking clarity on procurement expectations, certification requirements and participation opportunities in the country’s oil and gas sector.
“…We are proud to once again serve as the official Local Content partner. What began as a focused engagement has now become an important platform for dialogue that reflects the growing maturity and ambition of Guyana’s local content landscape,” SBM Offshore Guyana General Manager Martin Cheong told the gathering.
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He said meaningful local content is built on clarity, access and continuous engagement. “Forums like this create the space for honest conversations about procurement processes, standards, expectations and opportunities,” he noted. “They allow us to listen, to clarify and to strengthen alignment between industry requirements and local capacity.”
Pointing to the company’s outreach efforts, including its annual Vendor Day and ongoing clarification sessions, Cheong said, “Local content is not a once-a-year discussion. It is an ongoing partnership. It requires transparency, preparation and a shared commitment to raising standards together.”
As Guyana’s energy sector expands, he said the objective remains unchanged: “To ensure that Guyanese businesses are not only participating, but are well-positioned to compete and grow within a globally competitive industry.”
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Director of the Local Content Secretariat, Michael Munroe, addressed access to certification and supplier engagement, telling participants: “We want to ensure that there is greater access to the Secretariat so that you can understand what it takes to become certified, as well as what it takes to participate in the sector. There must be continued dialogue.”
Munroe said the Secretariat is working to remove barriers that suppliers have raised.
He also urged stakeholders to engage candidly: “Let’s create an environment where we can have continued engagement. I think once we have that space where we can be mature about our concerns, our interests, our challenges, that’s when we build trust.”
“The Secretariat is here to support you,” he told suppliers, adding that assistance extends to both Guyanese and international companies seeking to operate in the sector.
The Forum entailed key presentations designed to guide businesses through SBM Offshore’s procurement process.
SBM Offshore is the builder and operator of the Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, Prosperity, and ONE GUYANA FPSOs currently producing oil offshore Guyana. The company is also constructing the Jaguar FPSO for the Whiptail project sanctioned by ExxonMobil for its Stabroek Block operations. But its role in Guyana goes beyond oil production, as its community engagement projects aim to create long-lasting impacts on local economies.
SBM Offshore was the first major Exxon contractor to receive approval for its local content master plan by the Local Content Secretariat in 2022.
