(Kaieteur News) – Refineria Dominicana de Petróleo S.A. (Refidomsa) has been given up to six months to begin exploration activities in the Berbice Block. This is according to Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat.

During an appearance on the Starting Point Podcast, Bharrat said the government has imposed a short timeline for the consortium to demonstrate progress under the three-year exploration agreement. “We have given them a very short time frame to start these activities. Within four to six months, we must see some kind of activities within the Berbice Block,” he noted, adding that the government wants operations in the block to generate a lot of opportunities in Region Six.

Back in May, the Governments of Guyana and Dominican Republic (DR) inked the agreement for the Spanish-speaking nation through Refidomsa to explore, develop and eventually produce oil or natural gas from the Berbice Block offshore Guyana. The agreement was signed using provisions in the Petroleum Activities Act allowing direct government-to-government negotiations in certain circumstances.