-start of project delayed by COVID-19 restrictions

Clifton Collier, Business Development Management for Dril-Quip, was quoted as saying in the statement.

“This is a great time for Guyana and Dril-Quip is excited to make a larger contribution in partnership with TRINPET Guyana,” he added

With the purchase of land on the East Bank of Demerara “about 80 percent complete,” construction is expected to commence as soon as current COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Asked about the scope of employment opportunities for locals, Moore said that she could not yet give an estimate in relation to numbers but added that a factory would require many persons. “No, we don’t have that [estimated numbers] as yet but it would be a large amount because it is a factory,” she said.

The company has already been supplying ExxonMobil with offshore drilling equipment and Moore said that it anticipates to continue doing so.

According to its website, Dril-Quip is a leading manufacturer of highly engineered drilling and production equipment, which is particularly well suited for use in deep-water, harsh environments and severe service applications both onshore and offshore.

“The Company designs and manufactures subsea, surface and offshore rig equipment for use by oil and gas companies and drilling contractors in offshore areas throughout the world. Dril-Quip also provides technical advisory services, reconditioning services and running tools for use in connection with the installation and retrieval of its products,” it further states.

The company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, has operations in more than 20 countries, including Scotland, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Indonesia, Norway, China and Trinidad.

Drill-Quip’s partner company TRINPET Guyana is a subsidiary of the Trinidad and Tobago-based TRINPET Inc. and Moore explained that the company here is “80% owned by Guyanese”.