GUYANA-COURT-High Court dismisses case opposing gas to energy project.

The High Court has dismissed an application filed by private citizens, Vanda Radzik and Elizabeth Deane-Hughes, against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cancel the permit for the gas-to-energy project.

The two citizens approached the Court in March seeking an order to quash the Permit granted for the pipeline component of the project. They argued that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the pipeline without any evidence that the developer, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) owns the plot of land through, which the pipeline passes, contrary to the Environmental Protection Act.

ExxonMobil Guyana as well as the Attorney General were added to the matter and had asked the Court to dismiss the proceedings.

In the application of defence, Head of the Gas-to Energy project Winston Brassington gave a sworn statement indicating that the oil company was granted permission by the Government of Guyana to undertake works associated with the project and explained that there was no complaint by any of the land owners that their lands were entered upon without proof of ownership.

In a written judgement on Thursday, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry said there is no evidence that the Applicants were personally aggrieved by the EPA's decision to grant a permit to Esso Guyana.

The Fixed Date Application took issue with compliance to the law and...