– meeting should not raise undue alarm, says Environment Minister
The two companies that have commenced operations for the offshore Petroleum Guyana, CGX Resources Inc. and Repsol Exploration S.A have outlined their emergency response expectations to stakeholders within the sector at a forum at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre yesterday. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Robert Persaud, told the stakeholders that the meeting should not create panic, adding that Guyana will not be the first neither the last country to assess the risk of petroleum operations, and found it useful to add to its learning curve.
He said the meeting is to present an opportunity to be further aware of our roles and responsibilities where there may be such roles assigned and actions prescribed.
The subject of safety is a priority one for the government, as it believes that in petroleum drilling, there are inherent consequences or risks. These risks are regularly managed without incidents resulting.
“It has to be our aim that such is the case in this scenario; I have engaged the subject of safety and emergency response with the companies, and at the different levels, this matter has been raised with the companies”, the Environment Minister added.
He expressed satisfaction with the two drilling rigs engaged in testing for petroleum occurrences.  Recognising that the two companies have spent a great deal of money and employed huge effort to get to the point they are presently at, he said, “We too must be equally responsible  and demonstrate our interest so that the companies would be assured that we are a complete team with them”.
Country Manager of Repsol Exploration, S.A Jim Carlo, explained that the company, which commenced drilling one week ago, will take some 180 days if drilling is done on a 24 hour a day basis.
He said, the possibility of finding oil is 10 percent, equivalent to some 300M barrels. The well is located some 107 miles from Georgetown, and approximately 20 miles from Suriname’s border. The cost of the well is US$180M.
With regard to the emergency plan, Repsol has established two command centres to deal with any type of emergency. In addition, a communication system is used to allow all the activities to be connected and operating. Activities taking place in Guyana is connected to Spain, using the company’s satellite, the country manager said. He further explained that the possibility for an oil spill in the next year is very low.
Meanwhile, Agency Manager of Repsol, Ronald Payne, further explained that a lot of emphasis was put into the emergency response planning. Plans have been set up to have a waste management contractor. In addition, the company is supported by contractors from John Fernandes Company Limited, and Mercy and Woodlands Hospital. Health Safety and Environmental Officer of CGX, Terry Adams, in outlining his company’s emergency plans, said it is categorised into three main groups called Tiers. He further explained that the Company has booms and disbursement systems set up at Berbice, should there be an oil spill offshore. Adams added that the company also has the Clean Caribbean Americas. In the event of an oil spill, they can access this resource.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has responsibility for coordinating plans and policies for the effective management of the country’s natural resources in a sustainable manner. The EPA, as the lead agency on environment management, ensures the requirement of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) is conducted by both companies, and submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission for review and approval. The SEA, in essence, looks at the legal framework in which the activities are to occur and the possible environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures.
Both Companies, CGX and Repsol, were issued Environmental authorisations after review and approval of the SEAs. The authorisations issued contain conditions for sound environmental management to which the companies have agreed. Some of the conditions include submission of detailed emergency and oil spill contingency plans, health, safety and environmental plans. The EPA also has the responsibility to monitor the projects against the approved SEAs, the environmental authorisations and subsequent plans and reports emerging as a result of the authorisation to ensure compliance.
Towards assisting in monitoring capabilities, the companies are also required to submit monthly reports of progress made in relation to the conditions of the environmental authorisations.