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From ExxonMobil’s own mouth
Editorial…
Kaieteur News- ExxonMobil pretty much does as it pleases 120 miles from Guyana’s coastline. Given a free hand by the PPPC Government, the American oil company makes its own rules and does its best to maximize its profits. Profits before people, profits before a partnership that is an insult to the word, are what comes first in ExxonMobil’s calculations.
Increased rates of production leads to more profits, and when oil prices fall, then the daily production taps in Guyana are opened wider to accommodate any shortfall in revenues. The concern about increasing daily production rates in Guyana was raised at a recent public consultation in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and the answer delivered by a senior company representative was nothing less than mindboggling.
“When the projects are designed, we use the best design basis that we have at that time. For the purpose of the EIA, we use a very conservative production rate to be sure that we can estimate the worst possible environmental impact. So, the production rates that we supply to the consultants, such as ERM, they’re generally more conservative than what we intend to operate at.”
“Very conservative production rate” implies some seriousness with safety. Once that production rate is observed consistently, the risks of an oil spill causing endless trouble for Guyanese could be said to be under reasonable control. But of what relevance is that “very conservative production rate” provided for in the Environmental Impact Assessment calculations, if it is only for the show of it? ExxonMobil’s Projects Environmental and Regulatory Manager, Mariya Skocik, as much as confirmed this from her own words during the Diamond Primary School consultation. It’s worth repeating what she said, as was quoted above. “They’re generally more conservative than what we intend to operate at.” What could be interpreted from that statement, and justifiably so?
We at this publication think that ExxonMobil is putting one thing on paper, then putting what suits its objectives into practice. “Very conservative production rate” is thrown overboard, for the benefit of ExxonMobil. Where is the so-called premium placed on safe operations at its offshore wells and ships by ExxonMobil, as sold by its executives and managers? The Government of Guyana is content to function as a lame duck, while the risks to Guyana multiply, and the welfare of its citizens is jeopardized. Amid the incredible from ExxonMobil, the unthinkable was present. Agents of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency were present at the recent Diamond Primary School consultation, but they might as well have been deaf and dumb, for the reaction that came out of them. ExxonMobil is operating as though it is a country by itself and a government that cannot be challenged, so complete is its power. Yet, the best that the leaders in the PPPC Government can do is sit like silenced schoolboys reduced to mental bankruptcy.
In view of what Ms. Skocik said, a few other questions have their place and must be asked. If this is what ExxonMobil itself has confessed to be doing with production rates that it describes as “very conservative”, only to breach them, then how can it be trusted with other things? What else is ExxonMobil putting on paper, reporting to Guyana, as fact and standard, when the reality of what it is doing is far from such? Are Guyanese, using Ms. Skocik’s revelation as a guide, not justified to harbour doubts about the accuracy of billions in expenses claimed? Do Guyanese not have grounds to think critically of what ExxonMobil delivers as its daily production numbers? Considering that Guyana’s auditors were prevented from going near to ExxonMobil’s offshore production space and meters, what but the worst is left to think of such concealments.
This country has a partner in its biggest business that is doing its own thing offshore. Simultaneously, this country has a government that is the height of unconcern and proud of it. Guyanese have a government that is more focused on the actions of citizens who challenge it. But the same PPPC Government is sloppy to the point of criminal irresponsibility when ExxonMobil could be potentially endangering the environment and economy. ExxonMobil has enslaved Guyana via contract. It could be endangering Guyanese by its actions.
(From ExxonMobil’s own mouth)
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