Patterson’s gas-to-shore motion now on Parliament’s Notice Paper
A motion on the proposed gas-to-shore project in the name of APNU+AFC MP David Patterson has now been placed on the parliamentary notice paper.
This was disclosed in a letter sent yesterday by Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs to Patterson.
The correspondence came after Patterson had written a January 8, 2022 letter to Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir complaining that the gas-to-shore motion submitted to Parliament on October 27, 2021 was still to be addressed 74 days on.
However, the letter yesterday by Isaacs to Patterson noted that Patterson’s motion – an amended motion – was properly received by Nadir only on December 14, 2021. Isaacs said that Nadir examined the motion “as altered by him and amended by you (Patterson), and found it to be in order”.
Isaacs advised Patterson that Nadir yesterday gave approval for the motion to be published on the Notice Paper.
Patterson’s original motion was supported by Alliance For Change Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and stated “Be it further resolved that the Gas-toShore Project’s final decision be put on hold until the National Resources Committee presents its report to Parliament for debate and approval.”
The motion contended that the US$900 million project is shrouded in secrecy as there was a lack of research and consultation.
The gas-to-energy project entails the construction and operation of a 12-inch pipeline, approximately 220 kilometres long, from the Liza Phase 1 and Liza Phase 2 Floating, Production, Storage and
Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the offshore Stabroek Block, to an onshore natural gas liquids (NGL) and natural gas processing plant (NGL Plant) located at Wales. Government also has plans for a development zone in the area, which once accommodated a thriving sugar plantation and factory.
Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Exxon’s local affiliate, is the operator of the project and has since submitted a proposal seeking environmental authorization to construct and operate components mentioned in the project.
The pipeline is expected to transport up to approximately 50 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of dry gas to the NGL Plant while the maximum flow of pipeline is approximately 120 MMSCFD. The NGL plant onshore will remove propane, butane and pentanes+ liquids with the ability to be sold; and treat remaining gas to specifications required by the power plant, including dehydration and pressure letdown of gas.
According to the schedule, the pipeline will commence at Nouvelle Flanders with a corridor of approximately 30 metres in width. It will continue in a southerly direction to the side dam between Vreeden-Hoop and Nouvelle Flanders and will pass through L’Union, Rotterdam, Mary and Harlem, Wallers Delight, Ruimzigt, Klein Pouderoyen, Malgre Tout, Versailles, Lust en Rust, Java, Canal Number One, L’Oratoire, Bordeaux, Resource and Alliance, and Canal Number Two.