Jun 18, 2026
3 min read
More than 250 stakeholders, from financial institutions to farmers and fishermen, will be engaged through consultations and outreach programmes aimed at expanding participation in Guyana's oil and gas sector.
The initiative was announced as the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Local Content Secretariat on Wednesday handed over approvals for annual local content plans to more than 40 companies operating in the petroleum industry, including ExxonMobil Guyana, MODEC Guyana, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana, Guyana Deep Water Operations and SLB.
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat made the remarks during the ceremony, saying the engagements will target communities across the country, particularly outside Georgetown, with a focus on increasing public awareness and participation in the sector.
"We are going to hold some workshops across the country and all the other regions, especially the coastal regions where there are high population density. These are basically sensitisation workshops because many Guyanese still don't understand the sector," Bharrat said.
The consultations are intended to address misinformation surrounding the industry while providing residents with information on employment, training and business opportunities, Bharrat said.
Operators and contractors will be invited to take part in the outreach, he said, allowing communities to hear directly from companies about the qualifications, skills and services needed to access opportunities.
"These are the questions that when you go out in those regions: how can I get into the oil and gas sector," Bharrat said, adding, "These workshops are designed to change the narrative and help people understand how they can be involved and contribute."
The plans, required under the Local Content Act, outline companies' commitments on procurement, employment and capacity development for the 2026 calendar year. They are reviewed by the Local Content Secretariat for compliance before receiving ministerial approval.
Bharrat said the local content framework has delivered significant benefits, pointing to increased employment and business participation by Guyanese.
"Today, we have almost 7,000 Guyanese working directly in the oil and gas sector in just a short period of time, and 2,000 local suppliers. That is the result we were looking for when we passed this legislation," he said.
Bharrat commended staff at the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Local Content Secretariat and the Petroleum Management Programme for advancing local content implementation, and thanked operators, contractors and subcontractors for partnering with the government.
The approved plans will guide local content commitments for the year ahead and will be monitored through reporting requirements designed to ensure greater participation by Guyanese workers and businesses while retaining more value within the local economy.
