GUYANESE engineers are currently undergoing training in neighbouring Brazil and will be working along with ExxonMobil’s contractor offshore Guyana in the production of oil.
This was noted on Wednesday by Lisa Waters, Vice-President of ExxonMobil Development Company during her presentation at the inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX) at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

Waters told the gathering that manufacturing work has begun on the Liza subsea equipment in Brazil; the equipment will be used to transport oil on the seafloor during production to the floating production storage offshore (FPSO) unit.
She said the Guyanese engineers were recently hired by Exxon’s sub-contractor, Technip FMC, and they are undergoing training and working in Brazil on the projects. She lauded the efforts of the engineers thus far in their quest to gain knowledge and experience, noting that the skilled workers will work with Exxon throughout the installation phases of production.

She told the gathering that the oil discoveries to date provide the foundation for world-class oil development that will bring substantial benefits to Guyana and these include new sources of revenue that will improve the overall quality of life. She said that Exxon will undertake meaningful and sustainable community projects, which have the potential to positively impact the livelihoods of all Guyanese. Waters said that based on consultations with stakeholders and a community needs assessment,” our support in Guyana is directed towards education and training the environment and economic empowerment.”

She said that as an example, that Exxon was happy to initiate a partnership with the Iwokrama International Centre for rainforest conservation and development. Exxon plans to relaunch the centre’s science programme and last November on the occasion of World Science Day , the company pledged a sum of G$62M in that regard.
“So you can see the Liza development can bring significant benefits to Guyana,” Waters noted, adding that the revenue earnings for Guyana begin from the very first day of production.

Waters said that Exxon is proud to be a part of the Centre for Business Development, noting that the South Road facility is already assisting small and medium-scale businesses in terms of capacity-building and the general improvement of competitiveness. She said that in the first five months of operations, many persons have been taking part in activities at the centre .

“Local suppliers are very important to the success of these projects and to the growth of operations in Guyana,” Waters said. She noted that the centre is an investment in the people and the future of the country.

Waters said Exxon is committed to working with the authorities in the development of the country’s resources in a safe , responsible and mutually beneficial manner. She said that the company has an overriding commitment to safety and environmental excellence in everything it does, noting that it is a core value of all its employees and partners. “To ensure that today we protect the environment for tomorrow and the future,” Waters told the audience.

She said Guyana can be proud to be a part of the solution to meeting the growing demand for energy.” Guyana will be helping to fuel economic growth around the world.