Due diligence key to avoiding ‘rent-a-citizen’ issues – Cybele Energy

Feb 19, 2026 News

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…company vows to work ‘hand in glove’ with Local Content Secretariat

(Kaieteur News) – Cybele Energy Limited, the Ghanaian offshore explorer that was last year awarded a shallow-water concession during Guyana’s inaugural bid round has vowed to do its due diligence to avoid ‘rent-a citizen’ or ‘fronting’ within the company.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Beatrice Jones-Mensah Tayui made the commitment on Wednesday at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo being held at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

Tayui stated that her company will work “hand in glove” with the Guyana Local Content Secretariat.

“In that regard, we would closely make sure that there is no such thing as a rent-a- citizen. Therefore, to our people in Guyana please make sure that you are equitable in any partnerships that you have because we will fact check and make it important that the people of Guyana benefit first when it comes to local content,” she said.

Back in June 2024, Kaieteur News reported that Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo had issued a stern warning against the exploitation of Guyana’s Local Content Act through deceptive practices like ‘rent-a-citizen’ schemes. He warned Guyanese involved in the business to desist or face the full force of the law.

The Ministry of Natural Resources at the time announced that it will be working with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), as efforts intensify to eliminate the practice known as ‘rent-a-citizen’ or ‘fronting’. The issue refers to the unethical practice where foreign companies use local individuals or local entities as mere fronts to meet local content requirements, while the actual control and benefits remain with the foreign entity.

Further, being the first African based women-owned operator to sign a Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Guyana, Tayui expressed that the PSA was “proof positive” that Guyanese live in a country that is broadminded, that is willing to give opportunities to women and to the next generation.

The agreement, she said, represents a bold step in the advancement of women in the energy sector.

“I would be remiss if I did not speak directly to the women of Guyana. This win is not just my win, this win is for every woman in Guyana, in the region and globally. As I go around I get feedback on ‘you have inspired us’, while that is meaningful it needs to get better, we need a call to action, inspiration without action bears no productivity,” she declared.

Tayui called on Guyanese women to be part of the industry and take advantage of the opportunities.

“The government cannot do it without you. You must participate, bring out your talents,” she added.

“I want to say once our offices are fully opened and we will have all the structures in place, we will have an unflappable team and we call on the women. We would have a needs assessment because we want to work with you, we don’t want to give you what you don’t need, that is the reason for a needs assessment. We want to uplift not just the women of Guyana but the next generation,” the CEO assured.

Speaking on Cybele Energy’s corporate social responsibility and local content commitment, Tayui said that social responsibility is central to their mission of fostering inclusive and sustainable development.

Cybele Energy she noted is committed to empowering women and communities through local employment, skills training, entrepreneurial support and leadership opportunities while also investing in the communities, initiatives that promote health, environmental stewardship and economic resilience.

“Recognising education as a cornerstone of national progress, we would actively strive to support scholarships, school improvement projects and youth development programmes that set the standard for the next generation,” she pledged.

Through strong partnership and long-term engagements, Cybele Energy strives to create lasting social value, uplift undeserved communities and contribute meaningfully to the country’s growth and prosperity, the CEO said.

Cybele operates in Africa, the United States and the Caribbean, and is now the first African-led operator in Guyana’s oil and gas sector. According to the company’s factsheet, S7 is located 50 kilometres from ExxonMobil Guyana Limited’s Liza One and Two fields in the Stabroek Block, which is estimated at 11.6 billion barrels. The oil fairway, the company said, runs through S7 toward Suriname.

Meanwhile, while providing an update since signing the PSA, the CEO revealed that her company will soon begin pre-drilling activities.

“We are going to commence pre-drilling technical work and world planning operations and we are targeting our first well within the next 18 months, hopefully, of course this would be subjective to approvals as well as rig availability,” she said.

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• Cybele Energy, diligence, Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, rent a citizen

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