Region Five residents engaged on EIA for Liza Phase 2
Residents of Region Five Mahaica/Berbice were on Monday informed on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s (EEPGL) second phase development of the Liza field.
Monday’s engagement was held at Hopetown’s Cooperative Society building
The EIA is an evaluation of the positive and negative environmental consequences of the project prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. The bases of the EIA will influence the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s decision whether or not to permit the project and what conditions to permit it.
EEPGL’s Operation Manager, Doug McGhee explained that Liza Phase 2 is very similar to Phase 1 and will have over 30 wells and will produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day.
“It involves choosing a Floating Production and Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, it’s in deep water that’s 1600 to 1700 metres deep, the reservoir where the oil is located is about 5,000 metres below the surface of the water. So, it’s similar to Liza Phase one but it’s bigger,” McGhee explained.
The FPSO will process, store and offload oil-to-oil tankers and these will transport the oil to markets. Onshore facilities will be providing logistical support. The project will have 600 workers at its peak during each drilling and installation stage; about 140 offshore workers during production operations; and about 150 onshore workers providing shore-based and marine logistics support.
Todd Hall from Environmental Resources Management said according to the law, EEPGL must obtain an environmental authorisation from the EPA to undertake the project.
“That application was submitted to the EPA in December 2017. After consideration EPA determined that preparation of an EIA would be required. A team of consultants from Environmental Resources Management (ERM), Environmental Management Consultants and Ground Structures Engineering Consultants (GSEC) was approved to prepare the EIA,” Hall explained. At the end of today’s discussion, residents were given the opportunity to seek clarification on the topics discussed. They were assured that considerations were taken to prevent dangers to farmers and livestock and if affected they will be compensated.
The series of engagements began in early July and has since been held in Regions Two, Three and Four. Others are slated for other regions.
