Exxon provides ‘EMPTY’ answers to K/News questions

Oct 26, 2025 News

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By: Davina Bagot

(Kaieteur News) – “We’re sorry folks, we are out of time. Please feel free to send any additional questions you may have to our email.”

This has become a familiar line to reporters who attend “press conferences” hosted by Guyana’s energy partner, ExxonMobil. The company is responsible for the extraction of over 11 billion barrels of oil that was discovered in the Stabroek Block. As the country’s partner in development, as the company usually refers to itself, one would expect openness to the public, especially as it continues to face significant backlash for the lopsided oil contract it signed with the former Coalition government in 2016.

Press conferences by the company have, however, become a mere routine process, a farce, as some may even call it, as reporters are often sent away with vague or unanswered questions, although in some instances questions are submitted ahead of the event.

At its most recent media engagement on October 13, 2025 at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, the normal procedure took its course. The media was welcomed, updates were shared and questions were later invited. The entire process, hosted every quarter, lasts only for about two hours; while some believe this period is merely sufficient for company updates on the massive development taking place offshore. Afterall, the country deserves to be kept informed on the extraction of its resources.

In light of the limited time allotted to the question-and-answer segment, reporters are usually encouraged to send their remaining questions to the company. Kaieteur News decided to finally take advantage of the opportunity and promptly sent five questions to the company after the event closed. What it received were vague answers and not a single direct response to any of its queries.

It is important to note that the media plays a crucial role in ensuring citizens are kept informed by holding not only national leaders, but corporate giants, such as Exxon to account. By sidelining the media, companies such as Exxon are effectively communicating its lack of respect for the Guyanese people, and lack of accountability for the resources they are expected to manage. See below for the questions sent to the company and the responses subsequently provided. Kaieteur News will report on these issues exclusively this week.

1. How much has been spent on the Ogle HQ to date?

“We are in the process of finalizing the spend as we closeout the project, but the final number will not be available until early next year. However, we expect that the final cost will be consistent with what we budgeted and communicated to the government.”

2. How much has the company contributed as a major sponsor of CPL, and could you shed some light on whether those are recoverable?

“Please note that any funds spent on our sponsorship of the Guyana Amazon Warriors—and by extension, CPL—are not cost recoverable. This also applies to all sponsorships and community relations initiatives: none are eligible for cost recovery.”

3. What percentage of Exxon’s total expenditure is spent locally?

“In the first half of 2025 alone, GY$87 billion was spent directly with 1,800 local vendors, reinforcing the company’s dedication to local content development through significant investments in local businesses, workforce training, and community-development initiatives.”

4. What is it costing Exxon to maintain the GTE pipeline monthly until the gas plants come online and could you kindly disaggregate the figure to indicate what specifically the funds are spent on?

“ExxonMobil Guyana is responsible for covering the costs associated with monitoring, preserving, providing surveillance, and maintaining the pipeline until the integrated power plant is ready for startup. We are actively collaborating with the Government to support the commissioning of the joint pipeline and power plant facilities.”

5. Guyana is struggling with a chronic US dollar shortage in spite of producing over 700k barrels daily. Currently, EM has the right to keep all of its earnings from Guyana outside of the country. In the spirit of genuine partnership is Exxon willing to return and maintain a small fraction of its US dollar income from Guyana in Guyana?

“ExxonMobil Guyana makes substantial contributions to the Guyanese economy. Our investments in Guyana will likely exceed USD 60 billion and have already led to the government receiving US $8 billion of combined profit oil and royalties since production began in 2019.”

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• Exxon, K/News questions, Press Conference, questions, responses

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