Guyana is seeking a consultant to rewrite ancient Oil and Gas laws
… Limits information sharing to “need to know”
Kaieteur News – Guyana’s Natural Resources Administration (MNR) is preparing to hire a consultant for the development of the legal and regulatory frameworks for the country’s Oil and Gas Sector – a project to be completed in 24 months, starting in July.
The project, as requested by the Ministry of Expressions of Interest, is funded through a loan from the World Bank.
According to the request, the objective of the assignment is for the consultant to provide legislative drafting services, including on-the-job training, in relation to the development of the legal and regulatory framework for the oil and gas sector for MNR, and the Petroleum Commission (PC) – Sector regulator – once established.
According to the scope of work identified for the successful consultant, is to undertake a “comprehensive review of Guyana’s existing legal and regulatory framework… such a review to include and optimize existing institutional, legislative and regulatory analysis and review documents.
The consultant is also expected to support the MNR in detailing the legislative and regulatory instruments required to update and establish governance, management and Guyana
overseeing the upstream, middle and downstream oil and gas sector, to establish a modern and competitive framework.
This is in addition to developing a prioritized legislative agenda and an action plan in place.
The adviser is also expected to support the Attorney General’s Chambers in the review and drafting assessment necessary to ensure that the legislative and regulatory instrument is completed in good order for submission to the National Assembly, and to be transmitted into law.
“Providing for the transfer of information, including on-the-job training and review workshops, to selected personnel from the MNR, UW, Attorney General Chambers and other ministries / agencies as specified by the MNR, on legal aspects of the petroleum industry. ”
The MNR bid also requires the successful consultant, “to provide general client support for the process of updating and establishing a modern and competitive governance, management and regulatory framework for the upstream oil and gas sector” r the river, including detailing organizational functions. , roles and responsibilities, executive co-ordination mechanisms, and operational checks and balances systems for the organizations directly responsible for overseeing the sector, and in particular the functions to be performed by the MNR and NC. “
In addition, the consultant will be required to provide “ad hoc legal advice on matters arising from the governance and management of MNR in the petroleum sector as requested by the Client.”
Although there was no clear indication on the Ministry’s part about the cost of the consultancy, the money would be used from a US $ 20M loan secured by the World Bank.
It was noted, however, that the Consultant will be selected in accordance with the “Quality and Cost Based Choice (QCBS)” approach set out in the procurement Regulations. Under the Terms of Reference (ToR) prepared for the consultancy, the consultant will be employed for a period of 24 months with an agreed schedule of hourly or daily rates.
The ToR also requires that a large part of the work is expected to take place in the Consultant’s office, with regular visits to MNR and expected to be on an “on call” basis and available for audio or video -conferences as needed.
It was also noted that in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated ongoing travel restrictions, “the Consultant and Client will develop distance engagement engagement alternatives to the country requirements until the rest of the original – counting time requirements can be safely achieved in accordance with the general health standards. “
The Consultant is expected to be present in Guyana for at least 35 percent of the 24-month duration of the contract.
Notably, under the ToRs the Adviser and / or its employees are expected to keep confidential all information they receive, directly or indirectly, from the Authorities, its agencies or ministries, and any stakeholders other copies, as well as all the copies or analyzes it receives. does, or has been
made by third parties, on the basis of such information. ”
According to the rules of the MNR, the consultant will use the material obtained solely for the purposes of preparing things relevant to the assignment and will only allow access to the material to persons in their organizations on the basis of need- know.