— Ugandans urge Guyana

VISITING Ugandan petroleum officials have suggested that Guyana train persons quickly to function in the oil and gas sector, contending that human resource capacity is critical to the development of the sector.

Dozith Abeinomugisha, acting Assistant Commissioner, Directorate of Petroleum, Republic of Uganda and Alex Nyombi, Senior Petroleum Geophysicist from the Ministry of Energy in the African country are in Guyana to liaise with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on the development of this country’s petroleum regulatory framework regarding the development of the sector.

Uganda has been paired with Guyana through the New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in London.
That body’s mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is working along with the Natural Resources Ministry as Guyana prepares for oil which is expected in the year 2020.

Abeinomugisha, who attended a two-day oil and gas seminar here last week, which was organised by the New Petroleum Group through Chatham House , told members of the media on Monday that Uganda has a good framework which the country developed after it discovered hydrocarbons in 2006.

“When we made discovery our thinking was that we need first to establish ourselves,” he said, noting that since then, the country has been working on the institutional framework to develop the sector. These included the creation of a national policy, laws and governance regulations which were completed this year.

He said Uganda has not started production, a decision he said that is equal to Guyana’s position in the development of the sector.

“We are glad that this partnership has worked,” he said, noting that the country, even though it is ahead, is learning from Guyana’s strides in the sector thus far.
The legal framework needs to be consolidated, he said.

He noted too that the difference between the two countries is that Uganda’s hydrocarbons are located onshore, while Guyana’s is offshore. He suggested that Guyana ensure that its legal framework is detailed and is compiled after rigorous processes.
“You will need as (a) country as quick as possible, (to) get your young men and women and train them in this sector,” he said, noting that it is critical to taking the sector forward.

Ministry of Natural Resources Legal Officer, Joanna Homer said the Ministry is working to present its compilation of laws to the populace very soon.

At the opening of an oil and gas workshop last week at the Cara Lodge in Quamina Street, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman explained the legal papers are being compiled with draft regulations slated for completion next month. He told stakeholders that the new petroleum group made Guyana “A beneficiary of a unique and open exchange” forum with Uganda.

He said that the latter was chosen as a suitable mentor, having recently completed preparations for oil and gas extraction, which is expected to commence next year.

Uganda has enacted laws and cautiously scrutinised production-sharing agreements to ensure the country receives the best possible deals.