…as he commissions new Shell Bel Air Park Service Station
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar last evening expressed optimism that Guyana will soon join an elite group of oil producing states in the world. This is fuelled by the fact that REPSOL is here, and will be here at least for the next six months during which time the company will commence drilling for oil in Guyana.
Mr. Ramotar was at the time addressing the opening of the ultra modern, multi-million Shell Bel Air Park Service Station, Vlissingen Road, Georgetown.
“The team from REPSOL is here…it is stationed here, and they will begin drilling very soon; they will be here for minimum one hundred and eighty days; but by then I think others will probably join because I am an eternal optimist and I hope by the time our country will be hitting oil and joining that elite group of countries that are producing this product,” Ramotar said.
The Head of State pointed out that this is a major development which will help the country create a complex industry which will see the production of lubricants. “Finally we will produce lubricants and fertilizers,” he said.
He continued: “We have to start preparing for that and we have to start preparing the human capital for the challenges that we have ahead of us and to service what surely can become one of our most important industries.”
Last year Guyana spent some US$394M on importing fuel and this year it will spend US$450M.
“I have been talking about modernising Guyana and it is therefore special for me to be here with you to share this moment of commissioning) a modern service in our society,”
Mr. Ramotar said even though Guyana continues to invest heavily in alternative energy, petroleum will remain very important in the foreseeable future.
The President said that he is convinced at this point that this initiative will be a successful one for the nation, and for SOL Guyana Inc.
He said that the newly commissioned service station is the flagship of SOL in Guyana and is very important in the distribution and supply to all, and to sectors throughout the region.
Additionally, he said that this brings with it more opportunities for the country with regard to job creation, something that Guyana is in need of.
He emphasized that the promises of his government in the 2011 agenda will be delivered to all Guyanese, and the development of an efficient oil and gas industry is a shared vision and pillar of development of all the political parties that will make up the tenth parliament of the country.
Ken Figaro, General Manager of SOL Guyana, addressing the gathering said that the commissioning brought the company closer to fully operating the local and retail network which comprises some 12 sites, 10 of which are owned by the company and operated by retail contractors, while the others, also Shell branded, are owned and operated by respective dealers.
“Reconstruction of this service station signals SOL’s continued confidence in the Guyana economy, and it fits in with our strategic plan to deliver to our customers quality products and services at the state of the art service stations now in Georgetown, Berbice, Linden and on the East and West Bank Demerara,” he said
He said the acquisition of Shell’s petroleum distribution and marketing businesses in the Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Suriname and Belize in February 2005, marked the creation of SOL group.
Manager of the service station, Robin Low in his vote of thanks, mentioned every person who played a part in bringing the service to the point it is at, and he specifically thanked the Guyana Chronicle for being a good neighbour during the period of reconstruction.