A LOCAL drone solutions company, GuyDrones, has enhanced its capacity by partnering with DroNet, a firm based in the United Kingdom (UK), which has the largest drones for surveillance and logistics to support the operations aboard Floating Production Storage and Offloading ships (FPSO).

According to a press statement from GuyDrones, with the major offshore oil and gas discoveries in Guyana now exceeding 10 billion barrels, and ExxonMobil increasing its operations, the need for support services will increase substantially.

It is for this reason that both the local and international stakeholders believe that they have the right solutions for the demand.

DroNet, with offices in Senegal and the UK, has over 25 years of experience in surveillance, logistics and inspection using unmanned drones and “Beyond Line of Sight” for the oil and gas industry. The company is currently engaged in several projects in the UK, Africa and Suriname.

Their fleet of drones include Anavia and Hydrogen drones which involve the use of hydrogen with high energy efficiency, overwhelming environmental and social benefits, as well as economic competitiveness.

To leverage the expertise of each other, GuyDrones and DroNet signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which states that they will work jointly to bring this state-of-the-art service to the oil and gas sector in Guyana, help to develop the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector, and also bring investment, training and provide local employment.

GuyDrones is particularly passionate about local content because its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rani Rama, and Vice President, Ershad Mahamad, are both Guyanese.

Rama is an ACCA and CPA-certified professional with a passion for technology, while Mahamad is an aeronautical engineer, a Transport Canada FAA Certified UAV pilot with 21 years of experience in the aviation industry, as a pilot and in drone manufacturing.

GuyDrones launched its service in Guyana in August 2021 and has already seen tremendous success and results with the rice farmers around the country.

In light of this, the company plans to offer additional services such as surveying and environmental monitoring, along with a full training and certification programme for drone pilots.

DroNet’s Technical Director, Ravi Narayanan, and Mahamad say they are excited about this partnership, since it will provide employment to over 100 persons in its first year of operation, which will include operations staff, pilots and maintenance personnel.

According to Mahamad: “The technology is not new, but this will be a first in Guyana and we are proud to be the first Guyanese-based company to have such services Our website www.guydrones.com has more details about our services.”

The companies will be working with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to obtain BLOS (Beyond Line of Sight) approval in coming weeks.