Gas flaring

Jan 05, 2023 Editorial

Kaieteur News – We immediately set something on the record. We have very little trust in whatever ExxonMobil says and does. Concerning this development of ExxonMobil not publishing the data of how gas has flared into the atmosphere from its offshore operations, the first question that grabs hold is simple: if there is nothing to hide, then why is there this situation with the flaring data now a company and State secret? As ExxonMobil should know, the more things are handled in this manner, the more curious onlookers become, and the more suspicious people become.

Other questions on this issue come with a rush. First, what is going on with ExxonMobil’s flaring into the atmosphere? Second, how much is the company really flaring? Third, where is the PPPC Government on this matter? Fourth, why is the man heading Guyana’s oil sector not kicking up a big stink? And last, what is happening behind the scenes between the American company and the Guyana Government?

When we are dealing with people who are straight, every courtesy, every consideration, is extended. In contrast, when the circumstances involve those who have failed to keep their nose or hands clean, then the worst is thought of them, whatever they put out in public, and when sensitive matters are not done. Gas flaring numbers not known, held back, undisclosed, lead to the deepest suspicions. There is no benefit of the doubt due to ExxonMobil, or its partner in trickeries, the PPPC Government.

We really don’t know what ExxonMobil is up to, how much it actually produces daily, notwithstanding the figures it releases regarding what it does. The whole theme of this editorial is how untrustworthy this American company is, with a long history as the supporting evidence. ExxonMobil has several lawsuits pending in the United States and Nigeria. The common thread concerns reporting, including failure to report, and inaccurate reporting. To be blunt, ExxonMobil has been accused of outright fraud where reporting is concerned.

Now with a country as ill-equipped as Guyana, and as corrupt, this is oil paradise for ExxonMobil. With a watchdog body like the Environmental Protection Agency blindfolded, muzzled, and chained, ExxonMobil can do as it pleases. With a government as compromised as the PPPC, ExxonMobil has no fear of being called to book for any violations relative to gas flaring, hence the company simply proceeds merrily along. The bottom-line is we are so oil-ignorant that many of the people around the oil sector who are reputed to be way over their heads, beginners and amateurs. Again, ExxonMobil has never had it better.

Here is an issue for Guyanese on this gas flaring development. We are concerned that there may be another failure with the gas compressor, but ExxonMobil resorts to the action that buys it time. It says nothing, it pretends as if all is well on its offshore platforms with its equipment. If there is, indeed, yet another faulty compressor issue, then ExxonMobil could have been stretching the facts in what it has supplied to the Guyana Government as supposedly accurate information that can be relied upon. Whether this is the case or not, ExxonMobil may withhold atmospheric gas flaring data for a time, but it can’t get away with doing so for too long.

As an aside, a few months ago, it was reported that there was a spill of one barrel of oil at ExxonMobil’s Guyana offshore operations. Since then, there has been dead silence. However, many barrels of oil were actually spilled, be it more than one or only one, ExxonMobil is not saying anything, and the spineless PPPC Government also is not saying a single word about any related developments, such as a report. Like we said, this is the political environment in which ExxonMobil operates, and it doesn’t have to try too hard to keep the Guyana Government on a short leash.

This is brought up to remind Guyanese as how ExxonMobil conducts itself with absolute scorn for the Guyanese people, and how much the PPPC Government works hand in hand with the company with whatever it does. Is gas flaring going to be the latest in ExxonMobil’s tricks that it plays on totally at sea Guyanese?