News Excerpt
Tensions rise as Venezuela and Guyana dispute ownership of the Esequibo region and offshore oil discoveries.
Essequibo River
- Essequibo River, a river in east central Guyana, is the largest river between the Amazon and the Orinoco.
- It rises in the Acarai Mountains on the Brazilian border and flows northward for approximately 630 miles (1,010 km) through savannas and forests to the Atlantic Ocean.
- It reaches the Atlantic Ocean 13 miles (21 km) west-northwest of Georgetown, the national capital, of -Guyana.
- Its estuary, 20 miles (32 km) wide, is obstructed by islands and silt.
- With its chief tributaries, the Rupununi, Mazaruni, and Cuyuni, its system drains more than half of Guyana.
- The River is administered by Guyana. However, Venezuela has, for decades, laid claim to Essequibo.
- Venezuela has claimed that the Essequibo River to the region’s east forms a natural border and has historically been recognised as such.
Why Essequibo is a very important place?
- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s move to create a new state and explore the disputed area increases regional tensions.
- Massive oil and gas findings near the Esequibo region.
- Both countries (Venezuela and Guyana) claim the 160,000-square-km territory surrounding the Esequibo River.
- Guyana seeks support from the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.
- Oil production is currently at some 400,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) of oil and gas and is expected to rise to more than 1 million bpd by 2027.
- It will sharply boost Guyana's economy and promised huge income for the country over the coming years.
