Brazilian Army to begin drilling Rupununi wells before year – end

GINA, GUYANA, Friday, May 12, 2017

Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil, George Talbot in providing an update on the drilling of a number of wells in the South Rupununi by the Brazilian Army, said the scoping of the area has already taken place.

The Brazilian authorities are in the process of preparing the framework under which such an activity will take place, Ambassador Talbot told the Government Information Agency (GINA). It is expected that in a short time the Complementary Agreement to the Technical Cooperation Agreement that Guyana has with Brazil will be ready to be signed by the two countries to facilitate actions by Brazil in support of the project.

“The project will commence before the end of this year, with the target (being) the end of the current rainy season to begin works,” Ambassador Talbot said. He told GINA that during the works on the Brazilian side, counterparts on the Guyana side will be trained in drilling of the wells, operational procedures and well maintenance.

“The element of capacity training is very important on this project which makes more than just a single intervention of drilling and leaving and building of capacity so that in the future Guyanese will be able to perform the works.”

Meanwhile, a third meeting of the Administrative aspect of the Partial Scope Agreement with Brazil will take place during the month of June. Ambassador Talbot highlighted that under the agreement there are 180-odd items that Guyana can export duty free to Brazil, which are under-utilised on the Guyana side. The Ambassador said that only 10 of the items are being exported on a consistent basis to Brazil.

Ambassador Talbot mentioned that there is a third party to the agreement which is St. Kitts and Nevis. The three countries will review the agreement to see how they can move forward on trade.

In relation to the International Transport Agreement which Guyana has with Brazil, Ambassador Talbot said that Guyana is willing to do what is necessary to enforce the agreement.  He said that the country has been working closely with the relevant agencies, especially with the Attorney General Chambers and is hopeful that in a short time, the National Assembly will be able to take action. Such a move will facilitate the undertaking of goods and people between the two countries. Additionally, it will smoothen procedures that will develop and strengthen trade relations.

Infrastructure is important to any trade relation, Ambassador Talbot noted, as he made reference to the 2017 Budget and commended the Government of Guyana for taking the important step in moving forward with works on the Linden to Lethem road and the bridge across Kurupukari. The Ambassador said, “That combination of such an effort will make a very significant difference.”

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson is expected to be in Brazil later in May where discussions will take place to advance and determine some of the areas which the two countries can move forward on in terms of the joint bi-lateral infrastructural agenda between the two countries.

The coast and the hinterland are important parts of the orientation of the Governments that will open up opportunities for the peoples in their countries. Ambassador Talbot said that the road will open up the Northern part of Brazil which is currently land locked. He pointed out that Guyana has the reach to the Atlantic which offers a “win, win” opportunity.

 

By: Gabreila Patram