Companies prequalified for gas-to-shore project to submit bids soon – VP Jagdeo

…warns firms against trying to circumvent procurement process

The nine companies that were prequalified for the gas-to-shore project, will soon be invited to submit their proposals for constructing the project once Requests For Proposals (RFP) go out, even as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo warned foreign companies against lobbying and seeking to circumvent the procurement process.
During a recent press conference, Jagdeo spoke about the gas-to-shore project and specific components like the power plant and the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility. He noted that in two weeks, the nine companies that were prequalified earlier this year will submit their proposals.

“You know that nine companies were prequalified. I think the list was in the public domain. This is after a long process. And the requests for proposals will now go out, at the end of two weeks, to these nine companies to make the bids now for the power plant and the NGL facility.”
“So, we’re hoping that will happen very soon. And that we’ll be able to move forward with this project that will transform the country’s energy supply and also the supply of other liquids that we use. It’s a very feasible project, that would allow us to expand our economy, cut our carbon emissions and ensure that our development strategy gets implemented,” he explained.
It was reported back in January that among the companies whose Expressions of Interest were deemed acceptable enough to now enter the prequalification process, were CH4 Guyana Incorporated in collaboration with Lindsayca Incorporated, a Texas-based company.
Power China International Group Limited, a company that specialises in hydropower and electrical infrastructure, was also prequalified, as well as China Energy International Guyana Company Limited. China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) was also prequalified.
Other companies include Apan Energy, Wilson Offshore and Marine Limited, Constutora Queiroz Galvao, Tecnicas Reunidas, Black and Veatch, Amerapex Corporation (USA), SEPCOII Electric Power and Trinidadian company NGC Group.
Jagdeo also issued a stern warning to companies who have been prequalified for the project, to desist from attempts to have one on one meetings with Government officials. He noted that the tendering process will adhere to the rules and regulations and no one will receive favourable treatment.
“A lot of the companies that are tendering, they have local representatives that have been saying they have agreements to represent these companies. And they’re trying to get these companies to meet with Government officials. Now let me make it clear.”
“If any of these companies believe that meeting Government officials or if it was represented to them, that they can meet Government officials and it will improve their chances when the bids are evaluated, they’re wasting their money by paying these local representatives and they’re wasting their time too,” he said.
There was a recent example of this right at the Office of the President, which Jagdeo said resulted in someone being arrested. The Vice President recalled a specific instance in which a man who was a complete stranger to him, took a photo next to him and then used this photo to collect money from companies on the false premise that he knew Jagdeo and could act as a liaison between them and the Vice President.
“He then showed up here, because my secretary called and arranged a meeting. He showed up with another person he was conning, bringing to the meeting. And he was arrested right here,” Jagdeo said.
“So, this is going on, it has become almost like an industry, where people claim they are representing companies and I don’t know what they are representing to these people. So, if anyone is stupid enough to lose your money by thinking you will get any preferences because someone arranged a meeting with some policymaker, it’s your loss.”
The gas-to-shore project, which has a 25-year lifespan, is expected to employ up to 800 workers during the peak construction stage, as well as some 40 full-time workers during the operations stage, and another 50 workers during the decommissioning stage.
The scope of the US$900 million gas-to-shore project consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipelines from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.
It features approximately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from the Liza Destiny and Unity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline will continue approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.
The pipeline would be 12 inches wide and is expected to transport some 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.
The pipeline route onshore will follow the same path as the fibreoptic cables and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ), which will house the gas-to-shore project.
The Guyana Government has invited interested parties to make investments in the WDZ, which will be heavily industrialised and for which approximately 150 acres of land has been allocated. Those lands were previously used by the Wales Sugar Estate.