Our Mandate

The Agency’s mandate is stated in the provisions of the Guyana Energy Agency Act 1997, Guyana Energy Agency (Amendment) Act 2004, Guyana Energy Agency (Amendment) Act 2005 and the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2004. The core functions listed in section 5 of the Act are as follows:

  • to advise and to make recommendations to the Minister regarding any measures necessary to secure the efficient management of energy and the source of energy in the public interest and to develop and encourage the development and utilisation of sources of energy other than sources presently in use.
  • to develop a national energy policy and secure its implementation.
  • to carry out research into all sources of energy including those sources presently used in Guyana for the generation of energy, and securing more efficient utilization of energy and sources of energy.
  • to monitor the performance of the energy sector in Guyana, including the production, importation, distribution and utilization of petroleum and petroleum products.
  • to disseminate information relating to energy management, including energy conservation and the development and utilization of alternative sources of energy.

  • to grant and issue licences relating to petroleum and petroleum products, including import licences, wholesale licences, importing wholesale licences, retail licences, bulk transportation carrier licences, storage licences and consumer installation licences.
  • to utilise a marking system to add markers to petroleum and petroleum products imported by every person under an import licence or import wholesale licence for the purpose of identifying such petroleum and petroleum products as having been legitimately imported.
  • to take samples of petroleum and petroleum products from any person at random throughout Guyana and carry out tests and examination to determine the presence or level of the markers in the samples of the petroleum and petroleum products.
  • to perform the necessary tests to determine whether the marker(s) is in the required proportion and any further test necessary to determine whether the petroleum and petroleum products have been lawfully obtained, stored, possessed, offered for sale, blended or mixed with any substance that is not approved.
  • to prosecute in the Magistrates’ Courts persons who are in possession of petroleum and petroleum products bearing no markers or at a concentration below that required.
  • to prosecute in the Magistrates’ Courts persons who import petroleum and petroleum products without an import licence or wholesale import licence.
  • to prosecute in the Magistrates’ Courts persons who purchase, obtain, store, possess, offer for sale, sell, distribute, transport or otherwise deal with illegal petroleum.
    Section 6 of the Act further outlines several advisory functions of the Agency:
  • to study and keep under review matters relating to the exploration for, production, recovery, processing, transmission, transportation, distribution, sale, purchase, exchange and disposal of energy and sources of energy within and outside Guyana.
  • to report thereon to the Minister and recommend to the Minister such measures as the Agency considers necessary or in the public interest for the control, supervision, conservation, use and marketing and development of energy and sources of energy.
  • to prepare studies and reports at the request of the Minister on any matter relating to energy or any source of energy, including research into alternative sources of energy, or the application of such research, and to recommend to the Minister the making of such arrangements as the Agency considers desirable for cooperation with governmental or other agencies in or outside Guyana in respect of matters relating to energy and sources of energy.
  • to advise the Minister or assigned authority on matters relating to the administration and discharge of the functions of the Electricity Sector Reform Act 1999.

Overview of the Agency’s Divisions

The following is an overview of the functional Divisions of the Agency and their roles in achieving the mission of the Agency. The mandate of the Agency is executed in the following functional areas:

  • Non-Conventional Energy Management;
  • Administering and monitoring petroleum imports;
  • Maintenance of energy statistics;
  • Marking and testing of gasoline, diesel and kerosene imported; and
  • Issuing of licences to importers, wholesalers, retailers and transporters of petroleum and petroleum products.

The Agency executes this mandate through its five (5) divisions via-

  • ADMINISTRATION/PERSONNEL DIVISION
  • FINANCE DIVISION
  • LEGAL AND LICENSING DIVISION
  • ENERGY & ENERGY STATISTICS DIVISION
  • FUEL MARKING DIVISION

Administration/Personnel Division

The Administration/Personnel Division has direct responsibility for the smooth functioning of the following areas:

  • The Chief Executive Officer’s Secretariat;
  • The Registry;
  • Administration/Personnel;
  • The Documentation Centre

The functions and responsibilities of this Division, among others, are:

  • Staff Recruitment and Professional Development;
  • Staff Welfare;
  • Monitoring of the security services for reliability and adequacy;
  • General support services to the officers of the Agency in the execution of their duties;
  • Compliance with health and safety regulations.

Finance Division

The Finance Division is responsible for the day to day management of the financial resources of the Agency. The functions and responsibilities of this Division, among others, are:

  • To manage and maintain income and expense accounts;
  • To prepare budgets, financial statements and all other accounting records on a daily, monthly and yearly basis, or upon request;
  • To advise management on financial matters pertaining to the Agency and, where necessary, other agencies.
  • To make queries, and follow up same, with utility and other organizations, agencies.
  • To manage receipt and issue of stocks/ stationery, office equipment and assets received and held by the Agency; and
  • To prepare and maintain the Agency’s Asset Register.

Legal and Licensing Division

This Division is specifically tasked with enforcing the Laws/Regulations governing all activities involving petroleum and petroleum products in Guyana. The Division grants and issues licences to all individuals, companies and agencies that import, wholesale, retail, store, transport in bulk quantity, or otherwise deal with petroleum and petroleum products. Licences are issued after a site visit is conducted to ensure compliance with the Regulations and approved standards.

Licences are valid for one year and are issued during two (2) Licensing Periods viz:-

  • 1st Licensing Period commencing May 1;
  • 2nd Licensing Period commencing September 1.

NB: Licensing of new sites continues throughout the year.

The functions and responsibilities of this Division, among others, are:

  • To grant/ issue licences to person(s)/companies engaging in activities relating to-
    • Wholesale of petroleum or petroleum products;
    • Retail of petroleum or petroleum products;
    • Storage of petroleum or petroleum products;
    • Transportation of petroleum or petroleum products;
    • Consumer Installation of petroleum or petroleum products;
    • Importation of petroleum or petroleum products.
  • To suspend, cancel, cease licences in accordance with the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2004 made under the Guyana Energy Agency Act 1997;
  • To inspect all locations, motor vehicles, vessels, machinery and equipment for which a licence may be issued in accordance with the regulations;
  • To prosecute as necessary for violations under the Guyana Energy Agency Act 1997;
  • To prepare amendments to the Legislation as required and work in collaboration with the Drafting Department of the Ministry of Legal Affairs regarding same.

Energy & Energy Statistics Division

This Division’s focus includes the management of the PetroCaribe Agreement along with the continual analysis of petroleum imports, energy database management, energy and economic activities within the energy sector. The Division liaises with the Latin American Energy Information System (SIEE) and the Caribbean Energy Information System (CEIS) on energy-related issues and participates in related projects executed by both Latin America Energy Organization (OLADE) and SIEE.

The functions and responsibilities of this Division, among others, are:

  • To manage the Guyana and Venezuela Oil Agreement (PetroCaribe);
  • To facilitate the Guyana and Trinidad Oil Agreement and any other supply agreement;
  • To monitor the importation of petroleum products within the agreements, as well as imports outside of the agreements;
  • To supply information to the Ministry of Finance on the Guyana and Venezuela Oil Agreement (PetroCaribe);
  • To communicate with PDVSA surveyors (in Guyana) upon arrival of products in Guyana (PetroCaribe);
  • To collect, compile and store all energy-related information/data regarding the following-
    • Wholesale prices
    • Retail prices
    • FOB/CIF monthly reports
    • Price build-up reports
    • Nominations on behalf of the importers
    • Oil companies stock position
    • PetroCaribe actual and estimated volumes/values
    • Other energy reports that may be requested
  • To prepare and analyze the supply and demand of energy in Guyana;
  • To communicate with SIEE and CEIS on energy-related issues and participation in projects being executed by both organizations.
  • To supply energy-related information to SIEE and CEIS;
  • To facilitate payments for petroleum imports;
  • To communicate with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that promissory notes are prepared on a timely basis in keeping with contractual obligations;
  • To ensure transmittal of promissory notes to Venezuela upon receipt of same from Ministry of Finance;
  • To research the various energy technologies, both locally and internationally;
  • To develop a database of renewable energy technologies and disseminate the information as deemed appropriate;
  • To develop energy conservation programmes;
  • To conduct relevant renewable energy studies in order to compile information and to recommend appropriate project designs;
  • To monitor government agencies and private sector renewable energy projects/activities for optimum use, efficiency and cost-effectiveness;
  • To actively liaise with various agencies in order to promote renewable energy as a clean technology that will aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
  • To work in collaboration with other agencies to reduce the effects of climate change and to assist in the development of mitigation and adaptation plans; and
  • To develop renewable energy projects and briefs aimed at attracting financing and investors.

Fuel Marking Division

The Government of Guyana, through the Agency, contracted Biocode, a UK-based company, to offer appropriate technology in the fight against fuel smuggling. Biocode subsequently merged with a US-based company to form Authentix which presently provides technology and consumables required to add covert chemical markers to domestic fuels and test for such markers in various parts of the country. The Fuel Marking Division, established in November, 2003, is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all gasoline, diesel and kerosene are properly marked at a known concentration at all legitimate import points. The fuel is then tested at various sites across the country to determine the presence of the markers. A concentration different from what was added at the point of import would provide evidence that the fuel has been adulterated.

The functions and responsibilities of this Division, among others, are:

  • To mark gasoline, diesel and kerosene;
  • To sample gasoline, diesel and kerosene; and
  • To test gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

These are ongoing processes for this division, performed in accordance with the Guyana Energy Agency Act 1997 as amended by the Guyana Energy Agency (Amendment) Act 2004, Guyana Energy Agency (Amendment) Act 2005, and the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2004. This Division consists of several sections viz- marking, inspecting, laboratory, accounts and information technology.