GRA sets up Oil & Gas Department

In preparation for Guyana’s oil and gas economy, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is currently looking to enlarge its capacity in the oil and gas sector. In an advertisement, the authority made a calling for persons to fill key positions in the recently established Department.
The organisation announced recently that it is “spearheading an exciting and important phase of its development through enhancing its capacity in the oil and gas sector in Guyana, South America”.
Some of the vacancies listed in their advertisements include; relationship manager, oil lifting personnel, central processing clerk, exemption and inventory monitoring personnel, data and analysis and research personnel and administrative officer.
Meanwhile, recently, 118 officials were trained in the areas of oil and gas audit techniques, crude lifting agreements, oil and gas accounting, customs documentation and associated processes; and crude lifting measurements to ensure the nation does not suffer significant value leakage.
In addition, the GRA had stated that the Department will have two units to be headed by senior Executives of the Authority at the level of Deputy Commissioners. The Divisions are the Petroleum Revenue Audit Unit (PRAU) and the Customs Petroleum Unit (CPU).
The Units are expected to be staffed and given the resources to effectively monitor, audit, and ensure compliance by oil companies is optimal at all times.
Alnoor Kassam, former Head of the Canada Revenue Authority’s oil and gas operations, had also lent his services to GRA to help develop its administrative capacity for taxation in the sector.
Kassam is currently employed through an arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).