By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The Government of Guyana has issued a definitive rebuff to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela following a March 11, 2026, communiqué from Caracas that attempted to block Guyana’s latest offshore energy initiative. In a stern response via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana labeled Venezuela’s claims “legally unfounded, inaccurate, and entirely inconsistent with international law.”
The dispute centers on Guyana’s new 3D multi-client seismic exploration programme, a massive 25,000-square-kilometre survey aimed at mapping the nation’s untapped petroleum potential.
Sovereignty Beyond Question
The Ministry’s statement reaffirmed that the survey area lies “unequivocally” within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.
- The 1899 Foundation: Guyana reminded its neighbor that the maritime jurisdiction is appurtenant to the coastal territory defined by the 1899 Arbitral Award.
- The EEZ Mandate: Under international law, Guyana holds the exclusive authority to explore, exploit, and manage the natural resources within these waters.
- Repudiating “Undelimited” Claims: Guyana rejected Venezuela’s characterization of the area as “undelimited,” calling it a deliberate misrepresentation of both geographic and legal realities.
The Project: De-Risking the Guyana Basin
The seismic programme, conducted in partnership with geoscience company Viridien (formerly CGG), is a strategic move to modernize Guyana’s energy sector.
- Target Area: The survey covers 11 blocks from the 2022 Licensing Round, located south of the Stabroek Block and extending to the Guyana–Suriname border.
- Advanced Technology: Using high-resolution subsurface imagery, the project will help “de-risk” unexplored acreage, making it more attractive to international investors without direct public expenditure.
- Ownership: Notably, the Government of Guyana will retain sole ownership of all national petroleum data acquired during the one-year acquisition phase.
Caracas’ Threats: “Wholly Without Legal Effect”
Venezuela’s communiqué warned that it would not recognize any licenses or concessions granted unilaterally by Guyana. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quick to dismiss these threats.
“Venezuela’s assertion that it will not recognize concessions, licenses, or activities authorized by Guyana… is wholly without legal effect. No State may arrogate to itself the authority to invalidate the lawful sovereign decisions of another State within its own maritime zones.” — Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement
Status of the Controversy (March 2026)
While Venezuela continues to challenge the 1899 boundary settlement—a claim it first made in 1962—Guyana maintains that the 1966 Geneva Agreement does not obligate it to halt economic development. The substantive case to confirm the validity of the 1899 Award remains before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Guyana has called on Venezuela to refrain from “inflammatory and misleading statements” that seek to discourage legitimate economic activity and undermine regional stability.
