Latest update March 10th, 2026 12:35 AM
Bharrat says oil company instructed to engage communities on onshore operations
(Kaieteur News) – Amid renewed concerns about the likelihood of oil and gas exploration and production activities onshore in the Rupununi Region, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat said that Cataleya Petroleum Inc was given the greenlight by government to engage residents.
Bharrat told Kaieteur News Sunday, that government is aware of the ongoing consultations and is yet to make a decision regarding the activities proposed by the company.
He said, “They were asked to speak with the people first then apply.” The minister was referring to the application process legally required in acquiring a permit for oil and gas activities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would review such applications before determining whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be conducted for the proposed activity. Prior to conducting this study to assess impacts on the environment and livelihoods of residents, the community is engaged by an independent consultant to help draft a Terms of Reference (ToR) to guide the EIA.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat
After the study is completed, the EPA would review the document and could grant approval. Any decision made by the EPA could be objected to by citizens through the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB), a legal body that is empowered to overturn a decision of the regulator.
Cataleya Petroleum Inc., a locally owned company has commenced talks with Indigenous leaders on its intention to commence onshore operations.
This newspaper was told that on February 28, representatives of Cataleya met with residents in Karasabai, Region Nine where they unfolded plans to start operations at the ‘Hunt Oil Stretch’ an area of significance to Indigenous communities which they plan to preserve.
The chairman of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), Michael Williams in a previous interview explained, “In the North Rupununi we were trying to protect the wetlands over 25 years ago. We wanted it to be a Ramsar site but Guyana was not a signatory to the Ramsar Convention even though Guyana was a signatory of many conventions so that fell apart,” the Chairman noted.
Ramsar sites, according to research, are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. As of January 2026, there are over 2,520 sites worldwide covering more than 253 million hectares, aimed at conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable, “wise use” of these ecosystems.
The Chairman has made it clear that he would not support any oil and gas activity in the Region since the country is already not benefitting financially from the ongoing production by American oil giant, ExxonMobil.
But beyond the environmental, fiscal and social concerns related to the proposed oil and gas activities in the Hinterland, Williams also worries that there is no legal framework to govern such activities onshore. He said, “I am quite sure that the laws are saying we only have offshore oil drilling and not onshore yet.”
The chairman plans to seek legal advice on the proposed oil and gas exploration activities.
The Takatu project
According to a document shared with Rupununi villagers by Cataleya Petroleum Inc, the Takatu project seeks to determine the feasibility of exploring for commercial quantities of petroleum; upgrade all geological models for the Takatu Block and increase economic investment in the North Rupununi.
The company said, “The Takatu Project is an idea to look for energy (Oil and Gas) deep underground in the Rupununi…we want to see if oil found in this area in the 1980s can be produced safely and cleanly using new technology.”
Among its initial steps, the Guyanese company said it will share information and seek free, prior and informed consent, seek approval from the EPA and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The next stage will see Cataleya moving to synthesise and reprocess historical seismic data, inspecting and testing well safety, conducting 3D seismic and or aero surveys and moving to drill exploration wells.
According to the document, Cataleya Petroleum Inc was founded by Ryan Pereira, Michael Cawood and Ryan Ramjit in 2025.
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