As Guyana continues to aim in the direction of becoming an oil-producing nation, several stakeholders recently benefitted from a two-day oil spill response training seminar, which was sponsored by Gaico Construction Inc. The agencies involved in the training were the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Coast Guard, Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Natural Resources Ministry, Mangrove Conservation, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Social Protection Ministry and Rubis.
These stakeholders, along with the Gaico staff, were involved in a one-day classroom training session, while day two included a live oil spill drill at the company’s wharf facility at Nismes, West Bank Demerara. The training was conducted by the Oil Spill Response Ltd from the United Kingdom and United States.
“They provide support to most of the large oil companies (Exxon, Chevron, Shell, BP) around the world for emergency Tier 3 response,” a Gaico statement noted.
Gaico further explained that it is “now creating a partnership with this company for Tiers 1 & 2 support in the event of any spill.” The company encouraged stakeholders to join its Oil Spill Response department so that there can be response in the event of an oil spill.
According to the company it has a complete stock of Oil Spill Booms, Skimmers, Marine and other equipment “that can immediately deal with any oil spill.” Stakeholders were given a first-hand demonstration of the use of a skimmer which is used to extract 90 per cent of oil from water.
Back in August, Gaico opened an oil spill vessel and disclosed that it planned to invest in a “soil remediation facility which would treat contaminated fuel should there be an oil spill.”
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