Liza Destiny hailed as precursor of ‘unimaginable development’
(GUYANA CHRONICLE) – THE Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, will pave the way for unimaginable development for Guyana, and the journey towards her arrival in Guyana was celebrated at a commemorative reception at the Marriott Hotel on Monday.
The event was hosted by ExxonMobil and the Stabroek Block Co-ventures, and was attended by several Ministers of Government; members of the public and private sectors; members of the diplomatic corps and other specially invited guests.
Some of the noted officials in attendance included First Lady Sandra Granger; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Speaker of National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland; Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo.
In his welcome address to those in attendance, Exxon Mobil Country Manager Rod Henson stated that the celebration of the arrival of the Liza Destiny also makes way for the celebration of the strong relations shared between the Company and Guyana since the 1940s.
During the period, the company was active in the downstream business in Guyana, proving service stations, and selling fuel and lubricants.
“Our shared vision of a bright future for Guyana is built on a solid foundation. It’s been an interesting journey since our exploration activities initially began in 1999. There have been some challenges and many uncertainties but the perseverance and dedication have paid off,” Henson said.
As Guyana gets closer to ‘first oil’, he vowed that ExxonMobil and its partners in the Stabroek Block along with its Guyanese workforce will continue to work as “one team” towards a prosperous future that all Guyanese can be proud of.
Thus far, over 1,300 Guyanese, including 300 women and over 500 local companies, have contributed to the project.
Henson said: “The arrival of Liza Destiny is a historic event, and ‘first oil’ will mark a turning point in Guyana’s history, ushering in a future of enormous potential. This will mean something different for every person in Guyana, just as each person’s destiny is different.”
LIZA’S JOURNEY
First Lady, Sandra Granger making a toast to the arrival of the Liza Destiny here, thereby signaling a new beginning for all Guyanese
The Liza Destiny arrived in Guyana from Singapore on August 29, 2019 after being converted from a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) tanker ‘Tina’ to its present state.
The vessel is twice the length of the Providence Stadium; half the width of the Georgetown Cricket Ground; has the depth of the Kingston Lighthouse and the capacity to store some 1.6 million barrels of oil.
It is presently in the ‘hook-up and commissioning’ period, which includes the installing of moorings to the ocean floor; the connecting of flowlines and risers, and continuous testing in preparation for ‘first oil’.
Already, ExxonMobil has made 13 discoveries in the Stabroek Block, with estimates of more than 6 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the block.
THE WORLD WATCHING ON,
Back in June 2019, Guyana was named the fastest-growing economy in the world by the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, with a projected growth rate of 16.3 per cent during the four-year period (2018-2021).
This was only some of the positive developments highlighted by Director of Energy at the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe.
When he spoke, he told the gathering that the arrival of the Liza Destiny in the Stabroek Block some three weeks ahead of schedule suggests that the Department of Energy must also advance its timetable to prepare for ‘first oil’.
He further pointed out that being aware of its role of ensuring paved a path for Guyana’s transition into the petroleum sector, the Department is pursuing the most effective marketing strategy for Guyana’s crude; creating a fit-for-purpose regulatory body and expanding the physical and technological capacity of the sector.
“Guyana is about to experience a tectonic shift,” Dr. Bynoe stated.
“The future of Guyana is bright and thoroughly pregnant with potential and possibilities. It is time for all Guyanese to turn their attention towards a few critical questions of our time, such as: “Now that we have found oil, what are we going to do?”
Even as the country sets its sights on economic development through oil, he highlighted the country’s intention of eventually transitioning to a post-carbon economy, one which can provide access to clean, stable and reliable energy to all its people.
Delivering a toast at the end of the evening was First Lady Sandra Granger, who referred to the Liza Destiny as the vessel which will now lead the way towards “Guyana’s hope and aspiration”.
Throughout the proceedings, the attendees were entertained with musical renditions from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Steel Band; the Region Four Children’s Choir; the National Dance Company; the Kunjaz Steel Ensemble and spoken word poetry from Ms. Carlene Gill Kerr.
