Exxon CEO’s attendance at February forum here shines industry spotlight on Guyana
Last week’s confirmation that ExxonMobil’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods will travel to Guyana to attend next month’s International Energy Conference and EXPO Guyana 2022 places the country in the international oil and gas spotlight in a manner that comes close to equalling the international response to the May 2015 announcement by the global energy powerhouse that it had accessed several billions of barrels of recoverable oil in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.
The extent of the impact of ExxonMobil on the global oil and gas industry makes its CEO one of the most genuine high-profile functionaries in international business while the company itself has become known, globally, as much for its feats in the realm of oil recovery as for the controversies to which it has been linked, not least the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
The Exxon Chief Executive’s visit here does not only serve to underscore the importance which the company attaches to its Guyana ‘oil find, ’it will also likely draw even further international attention not just on account of its oil ‘riches’ but also as a hotspot for further international investment.
It will be recalled that in its December 24 issue, the Stabroek Business had reported on the discourses during the December 5-9 World Petroleum Congress in Houston, Texas which had centred around ExxonMobil’s “growing offshore developments and exploration efforts,” including a reported comment by the Company’s Senior Vice President, Mike Cousins alluding to the “incredible numbers………over 10 billion oil equivalent barrels” recovered offshore Guyana “in ten years.”
Even prior to the December Texas forum, ExxonMobil had been making no secret of the fact that its oil discoveries offshore Guyana had been major accomplishments for a company that has grown used to the ‘big time’ insofar as successes in the international oil and gas industry are concerned.
At the launch of next month’s Energy Conference and Expo in September last year it had been disclosed that it would, among other things, seek to map out Guyana’s energy landscape and that the programme will also include workshops on energy reporting for journalists, procurement practices, and career opportunities in oil and gas for young people. Additionally, it had been announced that Suriname will have a high-profile presence at the forum.
Business interests in prospects for investments in oil and gas are also likely to swell attendance at the February event whilst the forum and particularly the Exxon CEO’s presence there could also attract media interests arising out of issues pertaining to ExxonMobil’s environment policy position of climate change as well as matters pertaining to its business relationship with the Government of Guyana.
Woods, who began his career at ExxonMobil in 1992 was promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer after his predecessor, Rex Tillerson joined the administration of former United States President Donald Trump.