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The commission is also expected to help Guyana and partnership with Ghana and expressed opti-
establish future partnership opportunities with mism with the progress made so far.
Ghana to enhance continued co-operation, “We are very excited about this strategic
according to local press reports. partnership; it is receiving attention from the
Under the second MoU, the Ghana Invest- highest levels of government. On the sidelines
ment Promotion Centre (GIPC) would col- of the recent UN General Assembly meeting,
laborate with Guyana’s Office for Investment we held bilateral meetings with Ghana’s pres-
in order to create an enabling environment to ident, His Excellency Nana Akufo Addo, and
promote bilateral trade and investment. within weeks, a timetable to design and achieve
President Irfaan Ali of Guyana pledged his a framework for strategic co-operation was in
country’s commitment to strategic engagement place,” Ali said. ™

Georgetown receiving bids for strategic

baseline studies of oil development

GUYANA’S Department of Public Information to support oil and gas projects.
reported last week that multiple international Among the support facilities that will be cov-
firms have submitted bids to the Ministry of ered by the studies are chemical storage ware-
Natural Resources to conduct Strategic Envi- houses, gas transfer pipelines, heavy machining
ronmental and Social Assessment (SESA) base- workshops, logistical shore bases, power gen-
line studies ahead of large-scale hydrocarbon eration facilities, and ports and wharves, the
development. department said in a statement.
During a meeting of the National Pro- Meanwhile, the winning bidder will also be
curement Tender and Administration Board required to provide the government of Guyana
(NPTAB) on December 2, department officials with recommendations on how to either limit
named several the companies that have sub- or manage the effects of such developments.
mitted bids so far, including Asian Consulting Additionally, it will be tasked with assessing the
Engineering, the Institute of Environmental gap between Guyana’s Health, Safety, Environ-
Bay Phase from Portugal, Nemus and Strategic mental and Social (HSES) Safeguards and the
WW Consortium. They did not say whether standards set by the World Bank.
they expected any other consultancies to bid or Once the consultant submits recommenda-
when the contest was set to close. Nor did they tions, it will have to co-operate with several gov-
comment on the terms of the contract. ernment departments on the development of a
The firm that submits the winning bid will be prioritised action plan to educate selected per-
charged with measuring the long-term, short- sonnel on sustainability in the oil and gas sector
term, direct and indirect impacts that oil and gas by means of on-the-job training and workshops.
development is likely to have on Guyana’s social The goal of this baseline study is to establish
and environmental fabric. Additionally, the SESA as an effective framework that will enable
winning bidder will also seek to determine the this South American nation to improve environ-
extent to which environmental and social issues mental and social sustainability in the oil and gas
will be affected by increased activity at the off- sector while also safeguarding the health and
shore and onshore facilities that are being built safety of its workers and citizens. ™

Hydrocarbon development is expected to transform Guyana (Photo: OilNOW.gy)

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 49 09•December•2021