The number of Guyanese nationals employed with ExxonMobil Guyana has jumped to 2200 over the past few months representing 53% of the company’s total workforce.

Additionally, the company has spent $7 Billion on local suppliers in the first four months of this year.

The figures were made known this morning during a radio interview with ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe.

Appearing on the 94.1 FM Jumpstart Morning show, Ms. Moe explained that the company has been paying attention to Guyana’s local content policy that is now in place.

She explained that despite the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on local businesses, there has been no real impact on the supply chain for Exxon from local companies.

“For local content, the great thing about first quarter is that the local content policy that the government has and that we worked for, focus has been continuing on workforce development and supplier development and that work still continues. In the first quarter alone, we have grown our workforce again from the end of the year. We now have more than 2200 Guyanese workers supporting our activities to date and that represents 53% of the workforce so that is great and we have also spent $7 Billion with more than 500 vendors just in the first quarter, so that progress still continues”, Moe said.

She, however, noted that there are likely to be adjustments moving forward as the company will have to address the long-term impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

According to Moe, “one of the things that we do have to remain cognizant of is that it is not business as usual and so we will face probably potential adjustments in the coming months and so we will be watching it closely, but the businesses and the partners that we have been working with have done just a great job adjusting to the situation that we all find ourselves in”.

The operations of the ExxonMobil company has continued non-stop. Production has been ongoing and shipments have also been ongoing.

The company’s Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs explained that although the company has been able to bring in some of its overseas workers while following the health protocols and guidelines, it has been affected by the ongoing situation with the pandemic globally and locally.

She said the company has been able to operate offshore Guyana in a safe and responsible manner.

“The largest challenge that we have had is the ability to bring international workers in the country and that has actually impacted our ability to continue some of our drilling operations, but that challenge, we have had to work with establishing processes and working with the travel restrictions in place”, she noted.

Since the closure of the international airports, the Government has allowed special flights with Exxon relief workers for its offshore operations. Those workers would have to follow health guidelines once they arrive in Guyana, including quarantine. Those costs are covered by the company.

Ms. Moe said Exxon will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that its staff and contractors remain safe.

Guyana started oil production back in December. The country’s second 1 million barrel lift from the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel started today. Guyana earned US$55 Million from its first oil shipment.

Related posts:

Local suppliers in Oil and Gas Sector have earned over $140 Billion since 2015; Guyanese represent 64% of oil sector workforce – ExxonMobil Guyanese now make up 53% of Exxon Guyana workforce; Over $19B spent with local contractors in first half of 2021 Exxon officials grilled by Parliamentary Committee on Local Content Exxon pumped US$14 Million into local companies in first quarter of 2018 -Exxon Director