GGMC to perform duties of petroleum commission

Dec 21, 2017 News

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) will soon begin performing some of the functions of the Petroleum Commission as outlined in the Petroleum Commission Bill of 2017. This disclosure was made by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman in a recent interview with Kaieteur News.
The Petroleum Bill creates a Petroleum Commission. However, the Bill is currently stuck in a Special Select Committee of Parliament. In the absence of the Commission, there is need for an agency to perform some of the functions outlined in the Bill.
Minister Trotman said that GGMC’s Petroleum Division will transform itself, for the most part, into the Petroleum Commission
The Commission is supposed to monitor and regulate the efficient, safe, effective and environmentally-responsible exploration, development and production of petroleum in Guyana.
The Commission is to promote the policies of the Government in the exploration, development and production of petroleum in Guyana.
It is also to review and recommend to the Minister for approval, amendment or rejection of the plans, proposals, reports, analyses, data and any other information submitted by an applicant or Operator in support of an application for the granting or renewal of a petroleum prospecting licence or a petroleum production licence.
When required by the Minister, the Petroleum Commission is also supposed to manage bid rounds for the granting of licences; monitor and ensure compliance with national policies, laws and agreements related to petroleum operations and ensure that operators, contractors, sub-contractors and other persons involved in petroleum activities comply with all applicable laws.
The commission is supposed to ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental standards in petroleum operations in accordance with applicable laws and agreements and in cooperation with other government agencies, and ensure compliance with fiscal metering requirements in petroleum production activities in accordance with applicable laws and procedures. Those are just some of the functions of the Commission.