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The FSU could dispense gas to LNG- or dual- Meanwhile, Marco A. Guerra, the CEO of CB
fuelled ships, it said, and could also make gas Fenton, pointed out that the establishment of the
available to thermal power plants (TPPs) within LNG hub was likely to have a positive environ-
the framework of GTP projects and to ener- mental impact. “We are delighted to partner
gy-intensive manufacturing facilities. with Kanfer for such an innovative service,” he
Stig Hagen, managing partner in Kanfer, commented. “More than 90% of the world trade
described the project as an efficient and stream- is moved across the oceans, and we believe that
lined means of facilitating LNG and natural gas it requires cleaner fuel options. An LNG bun-
deliveries to marine and onshore customers kering and distribution hub in Panama is in line
in the region at a time of rising demand. “We with our sustainability strategy and will add
cannot do anything about the LNG prices, but value to the trade lanes using the Panama Canal.
together we can reduce the infrastructure cost Our purpose is to contribute to the quality of life
considerably. We are confident that Panama will in our region of influence through facilitating
be an important LNG bunkering hub,” he said. foreign trade.” ™

BARBADOS
Barbados postpones 2022 Licensing Round

THE Ministry of Energy and Business of Barba- three approved and listed multi-client vendors.
dos has once again pushed back the start date for (Those vendors have been named as Geoex Mul-
its next offshore licensing round, explaining that ticlient Geophysical of Norway, ION Geophysi-
potential investors had asked for more time to cal of the US and TGS of Norway.)
assess the information available to them. The government of Barbados has already
Bridgetown had originally planned to launch established the fiscal terms for the contracts it
the 2022 Licensing Round on November 1 but hopes to sign as a result of the bidding round.
then moved the opening date back to Decem- Specifically, all future contracts will be in line
ber 1. Late last month, however, the Ministry of with the Offshore Petroleum (Taxation) Act
Energy and Business revealed that the deadline of 2007 and the Offshore Petroleum Taxation
had now been postponed to sometime in the (Amendment) Act of 2012. ™
first quarter of 2023.
The ministry did not provide any more spe-
cific information but said it had changed the
schedule in response to requests from a number
of potential bidders. “Based on the fact that sev-
eral companies have requested additional time
to evaluate acreage and data, the government
of Barbados has made the difficult decision
to postpone the licensing round for this short
period to satisfy those requests, and to com-
plete critical amendments to the legislative and
licensing frameworks that will allow the country
to improve efficiency and ease of doing business
within the sector,” it said in a statement posted
on its website.
It went on to say that it was “encouraged by
the sustained interest” shown in the country’s
offshore assets and was “staunchly committed”
to working with international oil companies
(IOCs) to explore and develop the offshore zone.
Additionally, it expressed regret for the delay
and encouraged IOCs to remain in communi-
cation with Bridgetown.
According to previous reports, the licensing
round will cover all 22 available blocks in the
island state’s offshore zone. Potential investors
will be able to view the available seismic data on
all 22 blocks included in the bidding round in the
ministry’s virtual data room, provided that they
purchase official offshore data packages and/or
the requisite amount of seismic data from one of Map of offshore blocks from 2020 (Image: Ministry of Energy and Business)

Week 01 04•January•2023 www. NEWSBASE .com P9