Oil and Gas

In 2019, the national economy of Guyana grew by 4.7%, the largest increase since 2014. But while most countries would be delighted with a hike in GDP of this magnitude, for Guyana it really is only the beginning; oil production in the country is set to generate GDP growth of double figures for the foreseeable future.

Guyana, the small country on the north coast of South America, is a country like no other on the continent. Unlike every other country on the continent, its people speak English. Cricket, rather than football, is the sport of choice. Home to less than one million people, its population is one of the smallest on the continent, coming in just ahead of Suriname and French Guinea.

Regular readers of Business Excellence may recall our profile on Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) in South Africa back in 2013. TPT was, and remains, a central player in South Africa’s growing export-led economy. Indeed, since the time of the article, South Africa’s exports have almost doubled in volume, underlining the importance of TPT and its ilk to the ongoing success of the country.

The Talara Oil Refinery, located in a desert district a little over 1,000km from Lima,  is Peru’s second largest oil refinery. Since the refinery was first established, at the outset of the 20th century, it has played a central role in Peru’s domestic energy scene. It has an output of around 65,000 barrels per day (bpd), making it one of the largest in the Petroperú portfolio. In addition, it produces domestic LPG, motor gasoline, solvents, A-1 turbo, diesel, kerosene, industrial oils and even asphalt.

The World Health Organization believes that since February 2014, there have been nearly 18,000 reported Ebola cases and more than 6,000 deaths. According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speed of response is the key to ending the Ebola epidemic, mostly affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

There's no doubt that Nigeria is on the move. With a population of 175 million it is by far the largest nation in Africa, and this year it overtook South Africa to become the largest economy in Africa too, worth more than $500 billion. No wonder it is ranked as one of the MINT group of emerging economies together with Mexico Indonesia and Turkey - the powerhouse economies of the future.

Intertek traces its history back nearly 130 years to a marine surveying company founded by the entrepreneur Caleb Brett in the 1890s to answer a vital need at the time - independent testing and certification of ships' cargoes. Through a long process of amalgamation and acquisition it has since grown to become the global go-to resource for almost every industry sector.

Petroplan, the global oil, gas and energy recruitment specialist, has published its annual financial report for 2013. The results reveal another successful year at Petroplan, with Profit before Tax increasing to £5.1 million, up from £2.9 million in 2012.

The former Wood Group chief executive and chairman, who is scheduled to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Oil Council World Assembly in November, believes while the oil and gas sector is going through a “difficult time”, there is still reason for great optimism as a result of the government’s about-turn.