ExxonMobil staying

Dec 14, 2025 Editorial, News

(Kaieteur News) – ExxonMobil’s Guyana Country head, Alistair Routledge, made his company’s position clear. “Exxon is not going anywhere.” What is there to fear from Venezuelan strongman, Nicolas Maduro, when there is the Pentagon and its slate of battle plans? He can chance his luck against that armada assembled in regional waters, and see how long he lasts. In the meantime, ExxonMobil is staying right here, steady as a rock, and twice as impregnable.

The American explorers and partners of Guyana have every right for the confidence that they manifest. No question that the huge treasure trove of sleeping Venezuelan oil is an incentive that sparks US visions, prompts moving from strategy to within striking distance of whichever assets have to be degraded in this region. But we make the argument that if there was no oil in Venezuela, but ExxonMobil and Chevron here, then US military assets would still have been deployed to provide a watchful eye for any threats to the companies. Perhaps, a flotilla not as intimidating, but one that was enough of a deterrent, should Maduro develop a sudden case of insanity. From a US point of view, it is better to be safe than sorry, and to ensure the movers and shakers in ExxonMobil that there is no need to worry about the Venezuelan caudillo. Everything is under control, the men and women at ExxonMobil can sleep soundly, leave the rest to the people who train for a lifetime to take out troublesome people.

Routledge is right, “Exxon is not going anywhere.” We would be shocked if it did and left behind, even if only temporarily, all this sweet, cheap oil, disclosed or undisclosed. Where else in the world can ExxonMobil, or any other company, pull a stunt like that, and be allowed to get away with it? Go where else and do what it is doing with an audit that has US$214M in disputed findings, but which is heading nowhere, years later? ExxonMobil has been thought of as slippery, but few Guyanese think of it as being silly. Routledge knows that all he has to do is meet with the press when he feels like, share a few soothing words, give non-answers or no answers to questions, and ExxonMobil is celebrated by the leaders in the PPPC Government to the lowest citizens of Guyana. Even better, he goes around and donates a few dozen cricket bats and cricket hats, and ExxonMobil is the best to Guyanese.

It should be unsurprising to Guyana that Routledge could be so brimming with confidence, as he reiterated: “We are not going anywhere, ExxonMobil is not going anywhere, we have a contract here, we are executing our commitment under the contract and that’s what we are focused on.” Moreover, Routledge demonstrated that he was capable of slipping in a nuanced reminder, when asked about his company’s contingency plans in the event of any spillover from conflict with Venezuela. Showing the deft touch of a seasoned diplomat, Routledge said that was a matter for the Government of Guyana “to take care of.” We are positive that both ExxonMobil and Chevron and their executives are aware that Guyana can’t “take care of” anything of substance, should Maduro go bonkers.

So, what could Routledge be hinting when he said that the Guyana Government has “to take care of” whatever develops should Venezuela crossover from warring with words to actual war? We think that it was a reminder to his partners in the PPPC Government that they take care of ExxonMobil’s interests in Guyana, and it is guaranteed that Guyana will be looked after, with the PPPC Government as the biggest beneficiary. When ExxonMobil is shielded by the PPPC Government from the wrath of Guyanese, those calling for a harder line with the company, leaders will be well-rewarded for putting the company before the nation. Since the government has powerful control over many key areas in daily local life, ExxonMobil is in the best possible place. Why should it even consider going anywhere, when the setup is so favourable? There are too many items in the plus column for ExxonMobil, and very little on the downside. ExxonMobil isn’t going anywhere, not for decades more.

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Alistair Routledge, Editorial, ExxonMobil, staying

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