For the third year in succession, four top Guyanese students have been awarded scholarships to study Petroleum Sciences at leading Chinese universities. This year’s scholars are Una Herman, Anna Jeffers, Rondel Rutherford, and Tanika Sam, who will be arriving in China next month to join the two other batches of students that have already started their studies in China over the previous two years. The current batch of students were awarded their scholarships at a ceremony hosted by CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) at the company’s High Street, Kingston, Headquarters. In attendance were Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Vickram Bharrat, and China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Madame Yang Yang.
As China’s largest investor in Guyana, CPGL is one of the three major oil producing companies in Guyana. Its collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has resulted in the four additional scholarships being awarded. The selection of candidates was conducted by a joint panel composed of MNR and CPGL experts. In keeping with its Corporate Social Responsibilities, CNOOC will fully finance the costs of education, transportation and living expenses for the students while in China.
Upon completion of their degrees, all scholarship recipients will commence working in Guyana’s oil industry, ensuring that their newly acquired skills would benefit their country, as well as themselves and their families. The initiative represents a joint effort between the Natural Resources Ministry and CNOOC to develop skills, build up capacity and to increase local content within Guyana’s petroleum sector.
At the ceremony, the President of CPGL, Mr. Lian Jihong, challenged the young scholars to make full use of this unique opportunity. He reminded them that it would transform their lives, fulfil their aspirations and make a positive impact on society. Mr. Lian disclosed that CNOOC introduces programs to create social benefits in all the countries where it operates. He noted that Education has always been a key pillar among these initiatives. CPGL’s education focused initiatives in Guyana have been focused on creating a lasting impact on the students and society. Mr. Lian emphasized that the scholarships were a reaffirmation of CNOOC’s long term commitment to developing local content and capacity-building in Guyana.
Remarks were delivered by Chinese Ambassador, Madame Yang Yang, who stated that there is a strong bond of friendship and cooperation between China and Guyana. The Ambassador commended CPGL for engaging in various local community development programs. She highlighted the ongoing training and collaboration initiatives currently in place in the sectors of agriculture, engineering, health and artificial intelligence. In addition, contributions are being made by Chinese companies to Guyana’s development in sectors such as infrastructure, construction, IT and natural resources.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat thanked CPGL for fulfilling its Corporate Social responsibilities through this scholarship program, and numerous other initiatives in Guyana. He remarked that Guyana has one of the best managed Oil and Gas sectors in the world among new producers, and emphasized that the Government of Guyana was building out the sector while ensuring strong local content with an emphasis on capacity building. He urged the scholarship winners to stay focused, study diligently, make their parents proud and return to serve their country.
The 4 scholarship awardees will join the eight students who are already in the program at the end of August 2025. The awardees pledged to be diligent in pursuing their studies and future careers. They expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the MNR and CPGL for the opportunity to develop their skills and to contribute to the development of Guyana.
