Venezuela objects to newest FPSO in Guyana’s Stabroek Block
Apr 17, 2025
Kaieteur News- The Government of Venezuela is once again objecting to exploration activities by Guyana in the Stabroek block, accusing the nation of illegally traversing and exploring its maritime area with the arrival of its One Guyana Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel.
The newest FPSO, One Guyana
The Venezuelan Government, in a statement from Caracas on Wednesday, noted that “the arrival and eventual operation of the FPSO vessel One Guyana in the so-called Stabroek Block constitutes an illegal action.
In the statement, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela said that it categorically rejected the act, as it concerns a maritime area yet to be delimited, where Venezuela maintains historical and legitimate rights.
“This manoeuvre, promoted by the Government of Guyana in alliance with ExxonMobil, constitutes a violation of fundamental principles of international law, which require the State to refrain from adopting unilateral measures in areas without agreed delimitation. By persisting in this conduct, Guyana demonstrates a blatant disregard for international law and the commitments made in the 2023 Argyle Agreement, recklessly endangering regional peace and stability.”
Further, the release added that Venezuela does not recognise any concession granted in the area and warned companies involved that they may be subject to legal action and will have no rights to the illegally exploited resources.
“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to peace, but will firmly defend its sovereign rights and will not accept provocations or faits accomplis,” the statement added.
This is the second time within the last four months that Venezuela has issued warning to Guyana over petroleum exploration work done in the Stabroek Block.
On March 1, Venezuelan Naval Vessel ABV Guaiqueiri PO-11-IMO 469552 sailed approximately 700 metres in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone near FPSO Prosperity, which was operating lawfully under a licence issued by the Government of Guyana. The Venezuelan naval vessel communicated threateningly via radio communication that FPSO Prosperity was operating in Venezuela’s exclusive economic zone, before continuing in a southwesterly direction towards other FPSOs, to which it delivered the same message.
As a result the Government of Guyana sent a formal complaint to the Government of Venezuela, reminding Venezuela that all activities which the Government of Guyana has authorised to be undertaken in its Exclusive Economic Zone are entirely within the maritime areas appurtenant to the sovereign coastal territory of Guyana, as defined by the Arbitral Award of 1899, which established the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela consistent with well-established principles of international law in respect of this maritime area. Guyana enjoys sovereignty up to 12 nautical miles in the territorial sea, and sovereign rights beyond 12 nautical miles in the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf.
The Government of Guyana had further reminded the Government of Venezuela of its international obligations under general international law, the United Nations Charter and the Order issued by the International Court of Justice on December 1, 2023 which states: (1) Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area; and (2) Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to resolve.
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