The Guyana Revenue Authority is not budging from its decision to flag US$214.4 million in the costs submitted by the Exxon company in the cost oil audit.

Controversy erupted recently when it was made public that the disputed figure had been reduced to US$3million by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The Government said it launched an investigation into the reduction and ultimately laid blame at the feet of the Head of the Petroleum Unit Bobby Gossai.

On Tuesday, the ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge told reporters that the audit was still ongoing and that Exxon had submitted additional documentation on the request of the Government to the international audit company, IHS Markit.

This morning, the Guyana Revenue Authority fired back, and in a statement from Commissioner General Godfrey Statia, the GRA said it has noted the statement from the ExxonMobil President and it wants to make it clear that the GRA’s correspondence to the audit firm seeking clarity on the audit should in no way or form be construed as a change in the authority’s position that the Cost Bank Adjustment of US$214.4 Million be adjusted or to reopen the process.

The GRA said it stands by its advice that the US$214.4 Million as reported in the audit report is the accepted final figure.

The audit covered the years 1999 to 2017. ExxonMobil has already complained that the long period made it difficult for all relevant information and documentation to be supplied.

The EXXONMobil Guyana President has also disputed reports that an agreement on the adjustment was reached between the company and the Government.

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