In a definitive statement, Guyana's Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud assured on Wednesday that Exxon Mobile possesses total entitlement to conduct oil and gas drilling activities in the Essequibo region. This announcement came amidst growing global scrutiny over the energy multinational's extraction strategies, and it was made public during an interview conducted by The Associated Press.
1. Guyana's Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, has stated that Exxon Mobile has full entitlement to carry out oil and gas drilling in the Essequibo region.
2. The statement was made following increasing worldwide scrutiny of Exxon Mobile's extraction methods.
3. Persaud restated that Exxon's operations in the Essequibo region are fully within international law and Guyana's sovereign rights.
4. He affirmed that Exxon's exploration and extraction activities are not only legitimate but also hold significant economic value for Guyana.
5. Persaud's comments were a response to criticism against Exxon's key drilling operations in the disputed region.
Exxon Mobil announced in 2015 that it had made a significant oil discovery in an offshore concession in Guyana's Essequibo region, potentially holding over 8 billion oil-equivalent barrels.
Persaud was reported expressing firm emphasis on Exxon's legitimate operations. He reiterated that the oil magnate's venture in the Essequibo region is completely within the ambit of international law and Guyana's sovereign rights. The secretary affirmed that exploration and subsequent extraction of oil and gas reserves by Exxon is not merely permissible, but is of considerable economic significance for Guyana. His comments came in as a response to orchestrated criticism against Exxon's pivotal drilling operations in the contested area.