–through partnership between GNBS and the American Petroleum Institute

THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will be working closely with the American Petroleum Institute (API) to enhance local petroleum management standards, as operations at the oil blocks offshore Guyana intensify.
To solidify their partnership, the GNBS and the API signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the GNBS’ Sophia office on Friday.
GNBS Executive Director, Ramrattie Khan said: “Through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding today, the GNBS will be adopting a list of API standards.
“We’ll be accessing training and capacity building from API, as well as other opportunities, based on the needs of the Bureau and the local industry.”
Senior Petroleum Coordinator at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Bobby Gossai Jr., said this partnership has been in the making for two years, and that it is crucial for the development of the oil-and-gas industry in Guyana. He noted that Guyana has “a steep learning curve” ahead, as it has made several hydrocarbon discoveries in commercial quantities over a short period of time.

“We have realised that it’s very critical and very important that we put in place the right standards. We have seen from 2015 to today, there have been 22 commercial discoveries offshore Guyana, and all of that is taking place in one block. But at the same time, we also understand that we have a steep learning curve in Guyana,” Gossai said. The Ministry of Natural Resources had set up a working group with the GNBS to develop petroleum standards, which would develop the industry in a manner that would encourage investment. The MoU, Gossai related, is not just about paperwork, but about putting systems in place to govern upstream and midstream activity.
Vice-President of Standards and Services at API, Alexa Burr, who joined virtually for the signing said API and GNBS have a significant opportunity to share knowledge.
“As the global economy starts to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the global energy demand returns to pre-pandemic levels; it’s increasingly important that Guyana meets global energy needs through the use of best-in-class industry standards,” Burr said.
She said API is excited that the two organisations are aligning to advance safety, sustainability and environmental protection in Guyana’s oil-and-gas industry. (DPI)