Guyanese urged to plan for transformation derived from oil and gas sector
─ Energy Department host 4th oil and gas forum
DPI, Guyana, Friday, February 8, 2019
The Department of Energy of the Ministry of the Presidency held its fourth Oil and Gas Forum today, targeting Region Four regional councillors, students and other stakeholders.
Opening the event held at the at the Region Four Regional Office at Triumph, East Coast Demerara, was Head of the Department of Energy Dr. Mark Bynoe. In his presentation, he urged the participants to plan their careers not only for the oil and gas sector, but the transformation that will be derived from the emerging sector.
Dr. Bynoe explained that direct benefits will accrue to Guyana from four main areas; royalty, withholding taxes, profits, and job creations. While indirect benefits will be reflected in an increase in investors, confidence in the local economy, raising of standards and security levels, improved physical and social infrastructure, and improved economy activities.
According to DoE Head, under the current production sharing agreement between Guyana and ExxonMobil, two per cent royalty comes to Guyana; and there is the ‘profit share’, where anything above five per cent of the recoverable cost, is then split between Guyana and the operator.
Dr. Bynoe said that one of the positive effects that indirect benefits will bring, is improved physical and social infrastructure because in time there will be increased tourism arrivals as such airport facilities will have to be improved, taxi drivers will have to upgrade their standards and the general infrastructure in terms of telecommunications and electricity will have to improve. All of these developments he said, will require skilled technical persons, and therefore, there will be a need for more engineers, contractors among others.
On the subject of jobs, Dr. Bynoe said “those of us who are involved agriculture, you don’t have to change, those of us who are involved in laundromats, you don’t have to change. What you have to do, however, is ensure your facilities that are service providers meet the required standards… even within the health sector, it is important that we focus on what is to come… so, upgrade your skills and prepare yourself.”
Regional Vice Chairperson, Earl Lambert urged the students to consider career paths that will include oil and gas and those direct and indirect benefits that will result from it. He added that such an event is important for the regional administration as Guyana is preparing for first oil in 2020.
Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Officer, David Glasgow highlighted of some of the training opportunities that exist as it relates to skills preparedness for Guyana’s development. He highlighted that there are a number of training providers that are overlooked, such as the Government Technical Institute (GTI), that can serve as a foundation training institution for many of the technical areas that will be needed.
Participants also had the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions.
Also, present at the event was Advisor to the Department of Energy, Matthew Wilks. He also recommended that persons should not focus on career paths that are directly linked to oil and gas but look at areas that will be able to provide some service to the industry such as accounts, mechanical engineering, masonry, plumbing, information technology among other skills.
Synieka Thorne.
Images: Marciano Narine.