A recently formed Guyanese company has entered into an agreement with a Ghanaian company to launch Unicon Guyana Inc. (UGI) – a business which will be recruiting, training and supplying workers to oil rigs offshore Guyana.
Unicon Western Engineering Services -a subsidiary of Unicon Western Holdings of Ghana – and Amazonia Expert Services Limited of Guyana on Monday evening launched their joint venture at the Herdmanston Lodge, Queenstown, Georgetown.
The company will be supplying workers to Stena Carron drill ships which are contracted by ExxonMobil to conduct exploration offshore Guyana. The launch was addressed by Chris Hutton –the Rig Manager for Stena Caron –who lauded the joint venture, noting that he understands firsthand, the importance of partnerships to propel the industry.
Chairman of UGI, Dr. Arlington Chesney said the partnership is aimed at providing services to the oil and gas sector. He noted that the Stena rigs in Ghana are equipped with highly trained staff and the company wants to reproduce that model in Guyana.
Training will start in the first quarter of 2020, he said.
“We wish to be able to do what was done in Ghana…here with the same level of success,” he told those gathered at the ceremony including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings and Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge.
Dr Chesney said that the objective is to not only invest in the oil and gas sector but later expand to develop the education, agriculture and tourism sectors, thereby intensifying local content.
Ghana first discovered oil over a decade ago and is expected to become sub-Saharan Africa’s fourth-largest producer by 2020.
Chief Operations Officer of Unicon Western Holdings, Mark Lord –Ebbah said the company wants to ensure that Guyanese citizens are recruited in the industry.
He said in Ghana, his company provides corrosion control and prevention services for both offshore and onshore, fabric/pipe maintenance services, QC management for coating and fabrication services onshore and offshore, provision of offshore labour and manpower, tank cleaning, fabricating and coating of small to medium (sub sea) and steel structures among other services.
“Guyana is the next success story and we are proud to be a part of this story,” the Chief Operations Officer said.
Unicon Western Engineering Services was established in April 2016 while Amazonia Expert Services Limited was set up just over a month ago and is jointly owned by Guyanese and other CARICOM nationals.
The agreement to finalise the company was signed by Lord-Ebbah, Dr. Chesney and Director of UGI Patrick Antoine.
Meanwhile, D. Karen Cummings believes such joint venture paves the way for better job opportunities for Guyanese and “…bring about long term sustainable growth and development.”
