Guyanese Ministers and Technical Officers to participate in oil and gas mentorship programme. – Exchange programme planned for July 4-8, 2016 in Uganda.
Georgetown, July 1, 2016 – Guyana continues preparations for the development of its oil and gas sector. Minister of Finance, Honourable Winston Jordan, and Minister of Natural Resources Honourable Raphael Trotman, will be part of a four-person delegation, along with Officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, participating in a programme being held in Kampala, Uganda from July 4–8, 2016. The programme is designed to formulate the ‘next step’ needs for Guyana as it prepares for oil production. This mentorship exchange programme is being facilitated by Chatham House, the New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Natural Resources Governance Institute.
Chatham House extended the invitation to Guyana in March 2016 following the New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group National Seminar in Kenya. Uganda was identified and approved as a suitable mentor having recently completed its preparation for oil production which is set to begin in 2017. Since Guyana is on a similar path, it will gain valuable insights from the recent experiences of Uganda which has established needed frameworks and institutions and has been diligent in its approach to developing its oil and gas sector.
The Guyana/Uganda mentorship exchange will include discussions with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, visits to oil fields, Waste Management and specialized facilities and engagements with International Oil Companies and NGOs to exchange knowledge and ideas. A detailed agenda of the visit is attached below:
| Day | Event/Activity |
| Monday
July 4, 2016 |
· Visit to the Petroleum Directorate |
| Tuesday -Wednesday
July 5-6, 2016 |
· Visit to the Oil Fields |
| Thursday
July 7, 2016 |
· Courtesy call on Permanent Secretary and Minister of Energy and Mineral Development.
· Meeting with Uganda Minister of Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. |
| Friday
July 8, 2016 |
· Visit to Oil Companies and NGOs
· Visit the National Environmental Management Authority for discussion of environmental regulation |
Chatham House is an independent policy institute that engages governments, the private sector, civil society and its members in open debate and confidential discussion on the most significant developments in international affairs and carries out independent and rigorous analysis of critical global, regional and country-specific challenges and opportunities, works with key partners namely: The New Petroleum Producers Group which provides a setting for open conversation on the oil and gas industry in the context of new and emerging states, the Commonwealth Secretariat, which through designated team members, has been assisting Guyana to develop its National Upstream Oil and Gas Policy and petroleum sector legislation, and the Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI) which focuses on the measurement and assessment of natural resource governance.