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Frontera and CGX look for alternatives to protect offshore oil block of Guyana

Frontera Energy, a Toronto-listed oil company, and its affiliate CGX Energy have said that they are looking for alternatives to resolve a dispute between the Guyana government and Frontera Energy over the rights to retain a block offshore and to continue exploration there. Frontera announced this on Thursday.

Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana's Vice President, said that the government decided not to grant the companies a license to appraise the discovery, because it was not sure they could find a partner to finance the project.

Frontera and its joint-venture partner CGX Energy remain firmly convinced that the Corentyne Block Petroleum Agreement is still in force, Frontera stated in a press release to announce quarterly results. The company added that the vice president’s comments had "materially impacted" the partnership.

The joint venture sent a letter to the government of Guyana activating a period of 60 days for all parties to the Corentyne Block Petroleum Agreement to make every reasonable effort to resolve any disputes amicably via negotiation," the report added.

According to the terms of the agreement, if they cannot resolve the dispute within 60 days, they may go to arbitration, or to a single expert.

Analysts and experts expected Corentyne would be the next area developed in Guyana. This could have added variety to an industry dominated by Exxon Mobil, a U.S.-based consortium.

Frontera and CGX are now only left with Corentyne in Guyana after returning Demerara, and Berbice, to the estate. The companies first announced in 2022 that there was light oil and condensate present in Corentyne. They have concentrated their efforts on this area since then.

It said that a CGX subsidiary in Guyana has a separate $130 million project for a port in the country. The port can accommodate vessels up to 150 meters long and will begin commercial operations in this month, after the company negotiated agreements for its use. Kemol King reported from Georgetown, and Marianna Pararaga edited the story in Houston.

(source: Reuters)