Permit for 35 new wells – EPA at it again

Jul 20, 2022 Editorial

Kaieteur News – Exxon has applied to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the approval to conduct drilling operations involving 35 new wells in the fabled Stabroek Block.  (KN July 18).  It is a staggering number, which could up the billions of barrels of oil equivalents already found.  Some of those planned drilling operations are said to be close to areas that were previously explored.  It is not surprising that Exxon would want to march full speed ahead with drilling, exploring, and commerciality assessing, as part of its forward planning process, and reserve replacement interests.

What is amazing is how this country’s EPA has greeted this latest development from the oil giant that is now virtually running this country, and calling whatever shots pleases it. Because the record of the local EPA speaks so much for itself about its weakness, recklessness, and perilousness to Guyanese and their prospects, including safety and security, nothing more is said today about any of those things.  What we do put before the Guyanese public is how, once again, the EPA seems to be working for Exxon, and is subject to its beck and call, subservient to its will, and falling over itself to please the American oil behemoth, while leaving the local population still further exposed.

By its own admission, as carried by this publication (“Exxon seeks permit to drill 35 new wells in Stabroek Block -exact locations not identified, EPA orders cumulative impact assessment” -KN July 18), our own EPA has served notice that it is ready and willing to do whatever is felt would make life easiest for Exxon.  The precise locations of the drilling operations to be conducted are not known at this time, but Guyana’s EPA has signalled that it is ready with issuing the go-ahead, so to speak, as it prepares to jump as high and far as Exxon waves its wand and commands it to go.

For where, and what is involved, and how much so in all the finer details of these proposed 35 new wells to be drilled?  We think that such knowledge and answers are absolutely necessary before, and which the EPA should make it its duty to be familiar with and comfortable with, instead of reacting in this programmed and robotic fashion, as it did.  Unfortunately, the EPA is only behaving in its now characteristic helpless and captive manner in response to the dictates of Exxon, as all Guyanese have seen and come to expect.

Instead of the EPA taking its time and studying the fullness of what Exxon has put on the table in its quest for the permit, it appears to be bending backwards to clear any possible hurdles out of the company’s way.  This is the substance of what Guyana’s EPA has put out, how it is watching out for Guyanese: though ‘the likelihood of some of the impacts from the project were noted to be high, the severity of these impacts’ ranges from low to medium, once mitigation measures outlined, are implemented.’ In its own words, “However, it is noted that while the activity by itself may not have a significant impact on the environment, similar activities carried out in the Stabroek Block may have significantly affected the environment.” No matter how considered, it is as if Guyana’s sensitively, crucially placed EPA is speaking from both sides of its mouth, which is putting the best light on the careful hedging that came from it.

Let’s go that over again so that this registers and rings loudly: some impacts could be possibly high, but their severity medium to low, on the condition of the faithful implementation of mitigation measures.  This is more about marketing, selling, and looking the other way, rather than of watching out for and protecting this country.  So, it orders a cumulative impact assessment for the 35 wells.  This is what the EPA has come to, how it struggles to be all things to Exxon, while pretending to be safeguarding Guyanese interests.

With those many wells involved, the risk exposures multiply, the probability of human error intensify, yet the permit is as good as issued, cumulative impact assessment and all.  This is a sham selling itself as soundness from Guyana’s EPA.