The Mentor: Op/ed piece - Energy Exploration: Will Contracts Actually Emerge?

The Mentor: Op/ed piece

Energy Exploration: Will Contracts Actually Emerge?

UK-based Wordsworth Energy has expressed confidence that the Thibawian government is on board with their exploration plans. However, according to the Minister of Defense in Thibaw, these contracts are still in the “preliminary stages” and “nothing is confirmed at this point.” The government in Thibaw aims to be actively involved in future E&P efforts due to the potential to increase the country’s GDP , which will help bring the nation out of poverty. At this time, energy companies are relying on verbal commitments by the Thibawian government, but will these verbal contracts hold?

Jonathan Fong at Open Book International is concerned that all energy companies involved in the negotations have “alluded to a strategy” but seeks to bring more transparency to this process. Perhaps financial transparency with the aid of a non-partisan NGO will allow the process to become more visible and successful for all parties involved.