Emission of natural gases in Reg. 1 ceased
─ company advised to seek proper permission before drilling wells
By Anara Khan
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, June 6, 2019
The emission of natural gases which occurred last Tuesday in the Kumaka Area, Barima-Waini (Region 1) has ceased.
This is according to Director-General (DG) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig in a Facebook post.
“The eruption was as a result of a Brazilian company drilling a water well at the location. A cease order has been issued to the drilling company and it has been advised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek the proper permissions before recommencing private water well drilling operations,” the DG wrote.
He also noted that the company was ordered to ensure that the “failed well sites are properly capped”.
A hydrologist from the Hydromet office was today dispatched to the area to conduct a further assessment.
On Tuesday, CDC’s Head stated that the situation was being monitored by the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS).
Several agencies, including the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Hydromet Department were contacted to conduct an assessment.
Image: Civil Defence Commission and Department of Public Information