LOCAL fabricating companies Guyana Oil & Gas Support Services Inc. (GOGSSI), Industrial Fabrications Inc. (InFab), and ZECO Group of Services Inc. have secured major contracts to deliver fabrication services for the Jaguar floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. This achievement marks another significant step forward for local content in Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

The Steel Strike Ceremony, held at the Guyana Shore Base Inc. facility in Houston, East Bank Demerara, on November 11, is the third of its kind in the country. The Jaguar FPSO is being constructed by Dutch shipbuilder SBM Offshore as part of ExxonMobil’s sixth project on the Stabroek Block. The local fabricators will be responsible for producing over 300 metric tons of steel—exceeding the combined 290 metric tons delivered for the Prosperity and ONE GUYANA FPSOs. This increase demonstrates growing confidence in the capabilities of Guyanese businesses.

The Jaguar FPSO’s design is based on SBM Offshore’s industry-leading Fast4Ward® programme, featuring the company’s seventh new-build, multi-purpose floater hull and several standardised topsides modules. The vessel will be designed to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day, with an associated gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day and a water injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. It will be spread-moored at a depth of about 1,630 metres and will have the capacity to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil. This advanced design underscores the technological edge and efficiency driving Guyana’s burgeoning oil industry.

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge, highlighted the importance of investing in local businesses to ensure a genuine representation of local content in the industry. Routledge announced plans for a ‘Market Test’ to gauge local capacity and potential investments. He explained, “We’re collaborating with SBM, MODEC, Noble, and other major contractors to understand future demand in fabrication, machinery, and repair work. This initiative will help align long-term investment with industry needs.”

Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer, Director of GOGSSI, emphasised the impact of these projects on the community. “While our contribution to the FPSO project may seem small, such as building lighting fixtures, the local impact is significant. This is the true essence of local content,” he noted.

InFab’s Managing Director, Jerry ‘Max’ Goveia, added, “Our work extends beyond constructing vessels. It is a critical component of Guyana’s broader economic growth, particularly within the energy sector.”
“Let me say this, the world is watching as Guyana is on the brink of becoming a world-class economy and it is up to us to show that we are ready – ready to rise, ready to build and ready to prove that Guyanese companies can reach the highest global standards”, Managing Director of ZECO, Zakir Hack told the gathering.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, commended the involvement of local fabricators, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring that Guyanese businesses benefit directly from the expanding oil and gas industry. “This ceremony exemplifies efforts that go beyond the requirements of the Local Content Act, setting a positive example for Exxon and its contractors,” the Minister stated.

The Local Content Act has been instrumental in helping Guyanese businesses pivot into the oil and gas industry, enhancing workforce skills and driving high-quality output. To date, ExxonMobil and the Stabroek Block co-venturers have invested approximately US$55 billion in Guyana’s oil and gas sector, contributing to the creation of 6,500 jobs for Guyanese.