Guyana as part of its efforts to enhance national capacity for oil spill preparedness and response with the launch of a comprehensive four-day workshop on oil spill contingency planning. The workshop, which is being held at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, is facilitated by the Regional Activity Centre/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information, and Training Centre for the Wider Caribbean Region (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe). The event aims to bolster the country’s ability to respond effectively to potential oil spill incidents, a critical concern given the rapid expansion of Guyana’s oil and gas sector.
During the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips underscored the workshop’s significance, highlighting its role in strengthening Guyana’s oil spill contingency framework.
“This workshop presents a distinct opportunity for us to develop a deeper understanding of oil spill contingency planning and to refine the skills required to effectively implement our national oil spill contingency plan,” Prime Minister Phillips remarked.
He also pointed out that Guyana has had a national oil spill contingency plan in place since 2020, which was successfully tested during an exercise in 2022. The current workshop coincides with the drafting of the National Oil Spill Prevention and Management Bill 2024, a key legislative initiative aimed at formalising and strengthening the country’s oil spill preparedness measures.
“We are at the stage where we want to introduce a bill to the National Assembly to make this issue lawful in Guyana. This workshop serves as a precursor to the passage of this critical legislation, further solidifying our commitment to oil spill preparedness and response,” the Prime Minister added.
Prime Minister Phillips emphasised the importance of preparedness in mitigating the risks associated with Guyana’s growing oil and gas industry. He noted that the impact of an oil spill could be extensive and enduring, affecting sectors such as tourism, fisheries, and the overall health of the natural environment. To this end, he stressed that a comprehensive understanding of potential risks, a robust response framework, and the necessary resources and capabilities to act swiftly are essential components of preparedness.
He also highlighted the need for collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, industry players, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and the public, to ensure an effective response to any potential incidents.
Guyana has already taken several proactive steps to strengthen its oil spill preparedness and response capabilities. One of the key measures is the passage of the Petroleum Activities Bill 2023, which replaces the outdated Petroleum Exploration and Production Act of 1986. This new legislation is designed to ensure the responsible and modern management of the petroleum industry.
Additionally, the government has significantly enhanced oil permits and environmental regulations to minimise liabilities and manage the environmental and economic impacts of the industry. For instance, companies are now required to compensate at a rate of US$5 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent in the event of excessive flaring.
Participants in the workshop will be introduced to various tools and mechanisms, including the readiness evaluation tool for oil spills, which will help identify gaps in national contingency planning and improve overall response capabilities.
Matthew Martin, a representative from RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe, commended the progress made by the Guyanese government in its oil spill preparedness efforts. “We have a great foundation with the work that has already been done to increase preparedness for oil spill response, and over the four days, we will focus on improving the existing national oil spill contingency plan and further enhancing our readiness, not just in Guyana but across the region,” Martin said.
The workshop is sponsored by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Environmental Programme Regional Coordination Unit, and RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe.
