Landmark oil spill law also covers disasters on land, internal waterways – PM

The Government of Guyana is planning to table its landmark oil spill legislation this year, which is expected to strengthen Guyana’s capacity to ensure full liability coverage and for oil spill preparation, planning, and response. Importantly, this legislation will not only affect oil spills relating to the production of crude offshore but also the transportation of petroleum and related products in and around Guyana.
On Tuesday, a four-day workshop commenced at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Headquarters for key personnel from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and other agencies. The workshop is being conducted by the Regional Activity Centre/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information, and Training Centre for the Wider Caribbean Region (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe).

Addressing the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said that the legislation must be comprehensive and robust so responders are provided with the necessary resources and have the capability to act swiftly.
He added that as the country strengthens its capacity to address disaster preparedness, the legislation must consider how oil spills can happen in places outside of where oil is being produced.
“We tend to associate oil spills with only the oil and gas industry but the reality is every country in the world where they have a sea coast or coastline, every country must be prepared to deal with accidents,” the Prime Minister said.
He went onto explain that “in your day-to-day activities, thousands of barrels of oil are being utilised by every country to fuel their economic activities and in the case of Guyana, we have to move petroleum oil and lubricant to the hinterland because while we are an oil producing country, we are an agriculture and a mining country also. So at every stage, even before oil and gas, we had to be prepared to deal with oil spills.”
Contacted by the Guyana Times for more information on this point, the Prime Minister explained that the country’s oil spill legislation will deal with oil spills beyond offshore Guyana – where ExxonMobil and its coventurers are producing oil.
The prime minister urged participants of the workshop to develop a deeper understanding of oil spill contingency planning and to refine the skills required to effectively implement the national oil spill contingency plan.
Underscoring the importance of preparedness in mitigating the risks associated with the burgeoning oil and gas industry in Guyana, Prime Minister Phillip stated that the repercussions of an oil spill could be far-reaching and long-lasting, impacting everything from tourism and fisheries to the overall health of the natural environment.
The workshop coincides with the ongoing drafting of the National Oil Spill Prevention and Management Bill 2024.
“We are at the stage where we want to put a bill before the National Assembly to make this whole 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,” PM Phillips said.
Thus far, Guyana has taken several proactive measures to strengthen its oil spill preparedness and response capabilities. Among these efforts is the passage of the Petroleum Activities Bill 2023, which replaces the outdated Petroleum Exploration and Production Act of 1986. This new legislation ensures responsible and modern management of the petroleum industry.
Additionally, the government has significantly strengthened oil permits, and environmental regulations to minimise liabilities and manage environmental and economic impacts. Recently, a model Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) was developed to sign with new investors.
The workshop is sponsored by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations Environmental Programme Regional Coordination Unit, and RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe.