The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the most internationally renowned institutions on the protection of the environment, has expressed concern in a statement to the media moments ago that ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL), has restarted flaring of gas at its Liza Phase One Project in the Stabroek Block.
Notably, WWF highlighted that the company did not inform the Government of Guyana prior to this development while adding that recommencement of flaring defies ExxonMobil’s global commitment to reduce flaring from 2016 levels by 20% in 2020. WWF said too that it certainly does not support the company’s global statements about reducing its greenhouse gas footprint. “The burden of responsibility falls squarely on ExxonMobil. We look forward to the Company being held accountable for this development,” said David Singh, Director of WWF-Guianas.
Further to this, WWF said that EEPGL is undercutting Guyana’s “green image,” making it more difficult for the country to promote and build a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
WWF said that the lack of, and limited disclosure of information also gives no confidence that the company will take seriousl,y its good corporate citizen responsibility in a country known for its climate mitigation efforts. With this in mind, WWF said that future development of its oil expansion programme must be reviewed against this recent development and the way it was disclosed.
