GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government says effective from January next year, it will introduce a new structured timeline for reviewing and approving applications for local content certification.
It said the move is intended to bring greater clarity, predictability, and efficiency to the process, ensuring that businesses understand exactly how lengthy approvals will take once all required documents have been submitted.
The Ministry of Natural Resources, through the Local Content Secretariat, said that, effective January 2026, sole proprietorships and landlords will have new applications processed within five working days and renewals completed within three working days.
In addition, Guyanese-owned companies and business partnerships will have new applications processed within 15 working days and renewals within 10 working days, while all other companies will have new applications processed within 21 working days and renewals within 15 working days.
The Secretariat said that these timelines will only begin once all required documents have been received, ensuring that processing periods are “consistent, transparent, and aligned with the government’s commitment to a more responsive public service”.
It said an updated list of required documents will be posted on the petroleum.gov.gy website, clearly indicating the documents that will be required under this new framework.
Furthermore, stakeholders across Guyana’s petroleum industry and its wider supply chain are encouraged to download and utilise the Local Content App, launched in February of this year, the Secretariat added.
“This platform brings suppliers closer to contractors and subcontractors by streamlining access to procurement needs and strengthening local participation in the sector. Importantly, the ministry will also launch an online portal for applications to optimise the process.
“This launch will also take place in January 2026, and we encourage all members of the public to utilise these new facilities when submitting their applications,” the Secretariat said.
The Guyanese Local Content Act (LCA) was enacted to provide obligations on businesses involved in the energy sector to prioritise Guyanese nationals and companies in procurement for the enhancement of the oil and gas value chain; to develop local capacity and to promote competitiveness and encourage the creation of industries that would help the country’s development.
In April this year, President Irfaan Ali said that since the passage of the Local Content Act, local companies have benefited from over US$1.5 billion in contracts and procurement, with 1,100 Guyanese companies successfully being added to the register at the end of 2024.
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