Christopher Ram

Introduction Today I return to the matter of Esso’s new head office at Ogle, first addressed in Part 104 on 9th.

Introduction In Guyana’s fast changing news cycle, the issue of whether or not there is a shortage of foreign currency appears to have receded into the background.

Introduction It is surely a contradiction that even as Guyana has the fastest growing economy in the world, and amid a phenomenal expansion in oil production and export, the issue of the availability of foreign exchange is now a major topic, a running debate on facts among the Government, the Bank of Guyana, segments of the Private Sector Commission and of the banking sector and privately owned businesses.

Introduction Following a question raised in the National Assembly by Opposition MP Mr.

Introduction On 22 February 2023, the Guyana High Court handed down its decision in the action brought by newspaper publisher and crusader Glenn Lall.

Introduction President Irfaan Ali was visibly upset by the disclosure in the Stabroek News of Guyana’s suspension from the Norway-based Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

More than three years ago, and even before the first barrel of oil was produced, the 2016 Petroleum Agreement signed by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana limited (Esso) and Hess and CNOOC, its Joint Venture partners, concluded its first renegotiation with the Government of Guyana.

Introduction By a strange coincidence, this 100th  column features the 2021 financial statements of Esso Exploration and Production Limited, the designated Operator and holder of a 45% interest in the Stabroek Block under the 2016 Petroleum Agreement.

– Part 98  Introduction Last week’s column began a short series on the 2021 financial performance of the three companies – Esso, Hess and CNOOC – which hold 45%, 30%, and 25% respectively of the highly productive Stabroek Block, a find which has placed Guyana on the world’s petroleum map.

Businessman and Newspaper Publisher Mr. Glenn Lall has filed an action in the Guyana High Court challenging key provisions of the 2016 Petroleum Agreement between the Government of Guyana and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited and HESS Guyana Exploration Limited.

Introduction Thirty months after its passage and assent by President Granger in January 2019, the only thing active about the Natural Resource Fund Act is that it continues to generate controversy.

Introduction Over the past few weeks ExxonMobil has been holding public consultations on an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an Environmental Authorisation for what it describes as a Gas to Energy Project Onshore and Offshore.

This final column of this mini-series examining the financial statements of the three Contractors under the 2016 Petroleum Agreement, reviews their balance sheets, sometimes referred to as statement of affairs, as at December 31, 2020.

Introduction Each of the past three columns (#’s 88 – 90) reviewed the financial statements of one of the three oil companies which signed the 2016 Petroleum Agreement with the Coalition Government of President Granger.

Introduction Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Inc. (Esso), the largest of three partners in the Stabroek Block, with a 45% share under the 2016 Petroleum Agreement, has declared a loss of $6,516 million in 2020.

Introduction This second part of a mini-series on the three oil companies which operate the Liza 1 project under the Stabroek Block reviews the 2020 financial statements of the Guyana branch of Hess Guyana Exploration Limited (Hess).

Introduction This column which last appeared on April 17, 2020, is returning for a short series.

Part 87   Introduction According to the international press, Guyana will be the fastest growing economy in 2020.

Guyana’s electoral fiasco may have overshadowed the other major crisis which it faces, the COVID–19 pandemic.

There are three supreme organs of democratic power in Guyana: The Parliament which is made up of the President and the National Assembly; the President; and the Cabinet.