Gov’t setting up unit to monitor local content

The Department of Energy is setting up a local content compliance unit which will be responsible for ensuring that foreign companies are employing as many Guyanese as they say they are.

According to Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, the Unit will also receive any potential concerns Guyanese contractors or supplies may have.

“The Department continues to seek to ensure that… the sector is managed in an effective and efficient manner and will spare no effort in ensuring that Guyanese are able to optimise the value from these resources,” Dr. Bynoe said.

The Energy Director said while reporting from companies is dynamic, the Department is taking steps to ensure that more comprehensive frequent reports are provided to ensure that persons across all the regions are benefiting.

While there are no immediate plans to publicise these reports, he said, once there are no legal barriers preventing same, Department would have no difficulty in releasing the reports.

Dr. Bynoe also informed reporters that the final draft of the Local Content Policy has been completed and will be presented to the Private Sector and other stakeholders in the coming weeks.

According to Dr. Bynoe, there are currently more than 1,100 Guyanese working with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), representing about 50 per cent of the work force in the industry.

Additionally, the EEPGL is working with the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (C-TVET) to implement two pilot projects aimed at building capacity within the technical institutions. Since 2015, the EEGPL and its sub-contractors have spent over $119M on Guyanese contractors and service-providers.

In this vein, the Department has hired a Commercial Specialist and a Crude Lifting and Marketing Specialist to build capacity and aid in the advancement of its mandate. While both posts are expected to be filled within three weeks, Dr. Bynoe said the Department continues to examine ways to source the relevant expertise using the established tender process through the National Procurement Tender Administration Board as well as receiving approval from the Cabinet.