Upon examining the modifications made to the Liza Phase One Permit by the PPP/C Government, former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Vincent Adams says ExxonMobil has essentially been given a licence to pollute Guyana’s airspace which is in conflict with the nation’s laws.
During a virtual press conference that was held by the Alliance For Change (AFC) yesterday, Dr. Adams said this licence is no doubt “a callous aggravation of the already inhumane and illegal flaring that is taking place aboard the Liza Destiny.”
The first Liza Permit modification the former EPA Head took issue with spoke to the fact that ExxonMobil can now flare gas for 60 days at start-up instead of the 48 hours that existed previously.
The Environmental Engineer said, “This horrible modification that flies in the face of the Government’s own expert representatives, is only the first salvo, as soon to come, will be the same for the Liza 2, Payara, and all future Permits.” Dr. Adams said this undoubtedly does not bode well for the people of Guyana and the Caribbean; since, based upon the bad experience of the Liza Phase One failings, simple calculations show that such freedom to flare could result in billions of cubic feet (bcf) of gas being flared in just those first 60 days for all future projects when considering that both the Liza 2 and Payara developments will each be almost doubling the current production rate of Liza 1. The Liza Phase One Project is currently producing 120,000 barrels of oil per day.
Frighteningly, Dr. Adams said there is no condition in the modification to stop the flaring after 60 days; ostensibly meaning that the flaring could continue unabated forever, as long as the menial fine of US$30 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) is being paid. Dr. Adams also criticized the government for failing to disclose how it arrived at the US$30 penalty since internationally accepted numbers are more in the range of US$60 to US$100 per tonne. Be that as it may, Dr. Adams said the only problem, whether by sheer carelessness or ineptitude, is that the Payara Permit negates any such penalties for flaring, no matter the time period and amount.
In this regard, he noted that Clause 3.4 of the Payara Permit which is now the template for all such current and future Permits states, “Flaring is only permissible under “Commissioning, Start-up, or Special Circumstances.” Stunningly, however, Dr. Adams said, “Special Circumstances” is defined as “Planned/unplanned maintenance and inspection on gas handling equipment and related processes”.
Since all of the flarings could only be caused by the gas handling equipment which includes the compressor system and since by this Clause, flaring is allowed whenever the gas handling equipment is under maintenance; then, it could only be concluded that the insertion of this Clause is nothing but a farce and a slick gimmick to legalize all flaring occurring before and after 60 days, at the expense of the people’s health and environment, the former EPA Head stated.
To show some semblance of interest in the nation’s environment and the people’s health and safety rather than in the interest of ExxonMobil, Dr. Adams called on the Government to withdraw the modifications and replace them with the original positions held by those that were supported last year by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Department of Energy and the Canadian Consultants.
Additionally, the former EPA Head said the PPP/C Government must urgently convene an independent team of experts to conduct an in-depth investigation of the flaring issue since it is apparent that Exxon is incapable of a resolution.
