The relevant regulatory authorities are to investigate the circumstances surrounding a small fire aboard the Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel which forced ExxonMobil Guyana to suspend operations on that facility.
In a statement today, the Ministry of Natural Resources said ExxonMobil had informed it of a “potential safety issue” aboard the vessel.
According to the ministry, the company reported that heat detectors were activated in the laundry room of the living quarters, indicating a small fire which was quickly extinguished.
“The appropriate response procedures were immediately initiated. All personnel aboard the vessel are safe and accounted for,” the ministry said.
ExxonMobil had stated yesterday that operations were suspended as part of its established safety response and would resume after the necessary checks were completed.
The company provided no information on the cause of the fire, the extent of any damage or how long operations were expected to remain suspended. It was also unclear today whether production had resumed.
The ministry said the relevant regulatory authorities would conduct the necessary follow-up to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. It did not identify the agencies that would be involved or say whether a report on the investigation would be made public.
It added that it remained committed to prioritising workers’ safety and ensuring that the highest safety standards were maintained across offshore operations.
The ministry said it would continue to engage ExxonMobil and the relevant regulatory agencies on the incident.
The Liza Unity operates at the Liza Phase Two development in the offshore Stabroek Block and began producing oil in February 2022. It was Guyana’s second FPSO, following the Liza Destiny.
The vessel was designed to produce approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day and store around two million barrels of crude. Following production optimisation, it has operated above its original design capacity.
Stabroek News previously reported that the vessel reached a peak output of 252,000 barrels per day in 2024. According to figures presented during the 2026 budget, the Liza Unity produced an average of approximately 249,500 barrels per day during 2025.
ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is the operator of the Stabroek Block.
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