The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) yesterday rejected claims that the subsea pipeline for the Gas-to-Energy Project had ruptured, saying there is “no factual basis” for the allegations.
The joint statement was issued hours after Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed posted videos on social media from a boat two miles off of the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, where he alleged that the US$1 billion pipeline had ruptured for more than three months now and accused the government of concealing the matter.
While the EPA and MARAD statement was an apparent response to Mohamed’s claims, neither the Opposition Leader nor his video was mentioned.
“As there is no gas passing through the line, there can be no leak or damage of the nature suggested in these reports,” the agencies said.
They explained that the pipeline supplying the 300-megawatt Gas-to-Energy facility at Wales, West Bank Demerara, is not yet operational and that no natural gas is currently flowing through it.
According to the agencies, ExxonMobil Guyana has been carrying out a scheduled inspection of the subsea pipeline since May this year. The exercise, they said, is expected to last approximately three months and involves five vessels operating along the West Coast of Demerara.
The agencies noted that MARAD had previously issued a public notice advising mariners and members of the public of the inspection programme.
They further disclosed that a report concerning the pipeline had been received and investigated jointly by the EPA and MARAD.
“Following the joint assessment, the matter was determined to be a slight anomaly, which was thoroughly investigated by both agencies,” the statement said.
It added that further inspections are continuing “out of an abundance of caution” to confirm the integrity of the pipeline in keeping with standard safety protocols.
The agencies said they remain committed to transparency and to safeguarding public and environmental safety throughout the project and urged members of the public to verify information through official channels before drawing conclusions that could unnecessarily alarm residents along the West Coast of Demerara. These agencies are usually not available for public queries.
Video
Earlier yesterday, Mohamed released a video recorded from a vessel offshore in which he claimed to be at the location where the pipeline had been damaged.
“As you can see… I’m presently two miles off of the Marriott, where the one billion US dollar pipeline was ruptured around three months,” Mohamed said in the video.
Referring to remarks made on Wednesday by Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat denying any leak, Mohamed asserted that the government was ignoring evidence of damage to the pipeline.
“We have all the proof. That’s why I’m here again this morning to show you,” he said.
Mohamed claimed that bubbling visible on the water’s surface marked the location of the pipeline and questioned whether adequate feasibility studies had been conducted before its installation.
“It looks like no feasibility study was done on this project… because how can you run a pipeline where vessels would be traversing here over and over, especially when the water is low?” he said.
He also questioned what contingency measures would be in place if the pipeline were to rupture after it becomes operational.
“Just imagine if natural gas was running, what could have happened? It’s dangerous,” he said, while referencing a 2021 offshore gas pipeline fire involving Mexico’s state-owned oil company Pemex.
The subsea pipeline forms a central component of the Gas-to-Energy Project, which is intended to transport associated natural gas from the Liza offshore development to the Wales Development Zone, where it will supply a natural gas-fired power plant and natural gas liquids facility.
The project has been touted by the government as a major initiative aimed at reducing electricity generation cost. Construction has experienced a number of delays, with government officials previously indicating that commissioning is now expected next year.
The EPA and MARAD did not indicate when the additional inspections of the pipeline would be completed.
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