A new bridge, oil and the Houston area

Nov 12, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It is with great anticipation that Guyana received the news that significant developments have taken place for a new crossing for the Demerara River.
The presence of only one bridge between Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, and La Grange, West Bank Bank have been stifling our growth and leading to hundreds of millions of dollars lost annually because of the congestion.
And we are not even discussing the inherent dangers of one bridge that links the city to West Demerara and Essequibo. Thousands depend on the bridge to traverse to work, conduct business in the city and move goods and material.
We have been fortunate as a country that a structure, that is almost 40 years old, has been standing up despite the immense challenges. We see daily the congestion at peak times with authorities forced to come up with creative ways to ease the situation. These include one-way traffic on the bridge at peak hours, much to the detriment and frustrations of commuters.
We saw recently the problems that resulted from the replacement of a pontoon at the retractor span in which a critical hydraulic winch failed, resulting in river traffic on hold for several days.
So it was with a good feeling that Guyana learnt a few weeks ago that a feasibility study for a new bridge have come up with a location…between Houston, on the East Bank of Demerara, and Versailles, East Bank Demerara.
The bridge will fall between the Muneshwer’s port facilities at Houston, and Pritipaul Singh fisheries at McDoom.
The plan is to build two overhead flyovers to reduce the bottleneck at both sides of the river.
The plan, on paper, is commendable.
However, there is another side that the administration will have to look at, on the long term.
The Muneshwer’s wharf at Houston is a commendable investment by a business family that has been thinking out-of-the-box.
It will be located right next the new bridge.
There are some challenges that Guyana has to start thinking about. It is not too late.
ExxonMobil has announced a 2020 start for oil production in its concession 100 miles from the shores of Guyana.
While Muneshwer’s rightfully so has been granted some contracts to provide services for the preparatory work of ExxonMobil, on the long term, we will run into problem.
The wells are expected to produce over 100,000 barrels per day. There are significant services that will be demanded.
I believe that Guyana does not, as yet, have a real understanding of the magnitude of what we are talking about when it comes to oil.
We have been pushing for local content which translates to jobs for Guyanese and opportunities for businesses.
However, these jobs and opportunities will not happen unless we put into place the necessary facilities.
ExxonMobil’s operations will require tonnes of mud from a plant to help with the pumping of oil. It will require significant storage space for pipes and special containers. The operations will require fresh water, food, an area for repairs to vessels. It will require enough space for several vessels to dock. Critical spares, space for Customs, CANU and emergency response equipment and team will all be needed.
There will be limitations to the current facilities at Houston…it barely has space for two vessels.
Currently, traffic on the East Bank are forced to stop when container trucks enter or leave the Muneshwer and Gafoors’ areas.
It will get worse with the envisaged materials that ExxonMobil’s site will require on site once operation gets underway.
We have to be careful that in building a new Demerara River bridge, we don’t create more bottlenecks.
As of now, trucks coming from the city and wanting to head to the wharf area at Houston have to U-turn at the McDoom gas station area. That means the container trucks have to make a deep turn, halting traffic behind and those oncoming on the western carriageway.
The administration has to seriously think of facilitating an onshore facility that they have been talking about planned for Crab Island, Berbice, or elsewhere that will offer world-class services.
We only have to take a walk to nearby Trinidad which has special industrial zones for oil.
While one can argue they have had a long head-start, the reality is that we have an opportunity to get it right now instead of waiting for ExxonMobil to tell us that we don’t have the facilities.
I am sure that there are companies in Guyana that can complement what Muneshwer’s have to ensure we all benefit.
Again, these decisions or lack of by the Government will have direct impact on congestion and our benefits from oil.
I am not sure, with the bridge planned right next door to Muneshwer, what kind of impact the port facilities will have. Is there is buffer zone for the bridge?
Zaheer Alli

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