Natural gas bill among critical legislation in pipeline for oil sector – AG

Feb 20, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – A number of critical pieces of oil and gas legislation are in the pipeline to be enacted, among them, a draft bill intended to regulate downstream natural gas operations, Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall SC told the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo on Thursday.

Addressing delegates at Marriot Hotel in Georgetown on the final day of the conference, the attorney general said that the government is building a robust and attractive regulatory framework for Guyana’s energy sector.

He explained remains steadfast in its commitment to ongoing development regulations that reflect global best practices. 

As a result of the development trajectory of Guyana’s petroleum industry, the AG said the government has become intentional about creating a legislative framework that aligns with internationally recognised model laws.

To this end, the AG noted a number of draft laws are in the pipeline including a comprehensive environmental act.

“We have in draft a comprehensive solid and of course, liquid waste management bill that will embrace the oil and gas sector. We have also an oil and gas corporation bill that will deal with the downstream activities of natural gas when, as you know, we are building that capability. We have a gas to shore project that is being completed, hopefully by the end of this year,” Nandlall told the conference.

Speaking of the improved legal structure, the attorney general explained too that local content laws were introduced to create an environment where Guyanese can benefit from the booming oil sector.

“We legislated to ensure, as far as possible, the largest injection of Guyanese in companies. The Act establishes a local content secretariat that maintains a local content register of Guyanese nationals for employment, and Guyanese nationals and Guyanese companies from which goods and services may be procured. The Act creates offenses if there is any breach,” he asserted.

Nandlall explained further that the laws can be adjusted to suit the changing times and conditions.

He said “The Act incorporates a sliding scale approach to local content requirements, reflecting a practical understanding of the stage of development at the time of drafting, we recognise that Guyana did not possess the full range of technical skill, specialised services and industrial capacity required across every segment of the oil and gas and related supply chains, rather than imposing rich, rigid threshold that could impede investments of project delivery, the Act allows for adjustment over time as local capabilities are built.

“This sliding scale ensures that requirements can be strengthened and trained progressively as Guyanese businesses expand, workers trained and infrastructure improves,” Nandlall added.

Consequently, he said the sector has attracted more local operators caused “an explosion of businesses and corporations.

“And if I can just share some statistics with you, in 2025 alone, 36,251 new businesses were registered in Guyana, 36,251 new businesses. When you divide that, I came up with an average of 3,021 new businesses registered per month, an average of 755 businesses registered per week a five-day work week, 755 new businesses being registered in Guyana.”

“…Let’s go to corporations, limited liability companies, 1,516 local companies incorporated in 2025 that is 126 companies incorporated per month, 31 companies incorporated per week, that is the explosion taking place in the commercial sector. Now, with that kind of activity taking place in the commercial sector, our companies act, which was enacted in 1990 crafted in 1991 but came into force in 1995 30 years ago.”

Another major piece of legislation that has enacted, the AG said is the Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility Act.

This piece of legislation addresses how the government will determine liability. It embraces the international standards; drawing on the polluter pays principle and the framework of global conventions on oil, pollution, preparedness and response.

“We much of the controversy that surrounds the oil and gas sector globally, relates to environmental matters, and this is the main piece of legislation that addresses those. The act is constructed on four imperatives, as is stated in the title, prevention, preparedness, response and responsibility…The Act addresses the entire chain, preventing oil spills from happening, preparing effective contingency plans in case they do, mounting a swift and coordinated response if an incident occurs, and assigning clear responsibility, including financial liability for damage caused,” he stated.

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• Anil Nandlall, legislation, Natural gas bill, oil sector

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