AFTER considerable public consultation and expert assessment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for ExxonMobil Guyana’s sixth Stabroek Block development, Whiptail.

The report, totalling 3,636 pages, extensively details the project’s process and the potential range of social and environmental impacts it may have. The EIA is a legal requirement and provides a technical basis for permitting decisions and approvals for ExxonMobil Guyana and its co-venturers to move forward with Whiptail.

The EIA is a continuation of significant consultation efforts conducted by ExxonMobil Guyana and the government to understand, record and address stakeholder concerns. The final report is a product of a collaborative and transparent process with ample opportunities for Guyanese to get involved, contribute feedback and ask questions.

Since the Stabroek consortium submitted their application in January for an environmental permit to develop Whiptail, critical engagements with the public have been conducted, including scoping meetings, participatory workshops and outreach to government agencies, business associations and regional councils.

Even now, citizens have 60 days from the report’s publication (August 20) to review the document and submit comments for consideration. Public comment is highly encouraged, and now is the opportunity for citizens to highlight anything they believe the EIA may have missed, request more information on activities, or offer suggestions.

The EIA’s analysis finds that Whiptail operations will increase Guyana’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a projected 34 per cent. However, that amount is a mere 3 per cent of the carbon Guyana currently stores in its vast forests and a fractional amount of regional GHG emissions targets. Considering Guyana’s forests store 5.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide annually across 16.5 million hectares, the report’s conclusions suggest Whiptail would have minimal impact over its 20-year lifetime.

The study also finds that the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel and subsea components at the project site should not disturb natural onshore habitats, given the project’s deepwater location far offshore and away from major fishing grounds.

The report acknowledged that the project may impact other indicators, such as marine biological and socio-economic resources. However, these should not be cause for concern as mitigation measures for any impacts were included for the EPA’s consideration. This is the purpose of an Environmental Impact Assessment – to assess all effects of a proposed development, even those that are minor or can be easily prevented.

These findings should serve as a positive development for Guyana, and its reputation as an environmental steward will remain intact. They complement the protective actions the government has taken to safeguard against problems other oil-producing countries have experienced.

Beyond final approval, the public will continue to be represented and see benefits generated from Whiptail across all stages of project life. Guyana’s revenues from oil are set to grow substantially with each new project that comes online—rising as high as US $10 billion each year by the end of the decade, according to forecasts from experts. As noted by the EIA, all ventures are also conducted in alignment with the Local Content Act 2021 and should continue to drive economic growth and create additional jobs.

ExxonMobil has yet to make its final investment decision for the Whiptail field but is expected to do so once the EIA is finalised and permits are secured. If the project moves forward, it will represent a US$12.9 billion investment in Guyana.

The company has stated that it intends to submit its field development plan for the project by October – another pivotal step that ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge recently indicated is part of its focus on furthering sustainable development in the country.