Ministry seeking consulting firm to evaluate Exxon’s Uaru project

Having received US$20 million from the World Bank in 2020, the Ministry of Natural Resources is using some of the funds to find a consulting firm to help review and evaluate ExxonMobil’s Uaru project.

 “The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (GCRG) has received financing in the amount of US$20 Million equivalent from the World Bank (WB) toward the cost of the Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project (GPRGMP) and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to pay a consulting firm to provide advisory services, technical support and training and capacity strengthening services to the Government of Guyana (GoG),” a Request for Proposals notice states.

“…The assignment will include the following areas: A. Detailed Assessment of the Uaru Concept Selection Process and Field Development Plan B. FDP Management, Over-sight, Monitoring and Reporting C. Detailed Assessment of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the Proposed Uaru FDP D. ESIA Management, Over-sight, Monitoring and Reporting E. Training and Institutional Capacity,” the notice explains.

In 2019, the World Bank approved a US$20 million loan for a Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management project.

The Ministry of Finance had said that government, recognising the risks associated with being a new oil and gas producer, negotiated the loan to address governance and management risks from inadequate policy, legal and regulatory frameworks and institutional capacity.

A signing for the release of the loan was done under the APNU+AFC government on April 11, 2019.

Since then, parts of the fund have been used to fund different projects under GPRGMP.

The Request for Proposal pointed out that the objective of the assignment is “for the Consultant to provide advisory services, technical support and training and capacity strengthening services to the GoG, through the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), and the Sector Regulator – the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) or the Petroleum Commission (PC) once established – and other attendant Ministries with the aim of enhancing the country’s core capacity to review, approve, authorize, and oversee, monitor and report on the implementation of Field Development Plan(s) (FDP).”

Firms have to indicate their interest in providing the services and must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services, such as, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions and availability of appropriate skills among staff.

The ministry said that a Consultant will be selected in accordance with the “Quality-And-Cost Based Selection (QCBS)” method set out in the procurement Regulations.