“It would appear that OGGN perhaps misled the senators” -Routledge on Exxon’s tax credit allegations
President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge, has suggested that U.S. Senators may have been misled by the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) regarding claims that American taxpayers are subsidising ExxonMobil’s operations in Guyana.
Routledge made the statement during a media conference at the company’s new Ogle, East Coast Demerara headquarters, while addressing questions on whether ExxonMobil claimed U.S. tax credits for its operations in the Stabroek Block.
“What I can say about that is, it would appear that OGGN perhaps misled the senators somewhat. ExxonMobil Corporation, in its 2023 and 2024 tax filings, there were no Guyanese tax credits that were included in either of those filings. And you’ll recall that prior to 2023, we were not making profits here in Guyana,” Routledge said.
He added that from the start of operations to date, “there have been no Guyana tax credits that have been used by Exxon.” Routledge explained that the company was still working with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on the tax receipts to be issued in accordance with the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).
Under that contract, Exxon is not required to make tax payments to the Government of Guyana (GoG). The government agreed to issue receipts confirming that the company’s local tax obligations were met.
Earlier this year, two Guyanese representatives from OGGN met with U.S. lawmakers, arguing that Exxon may be using those receipts to claim tax credits in the United States, something they said could amount to fraudulent tax practices. Following that meeting, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley wrote to ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, giving the company until October 23 to explain its tax arrangements with Guyana.
The senators’ letter raised concerns that American taxpayers could be indirectly subsidising Exxon’s foreign oil production.
When asked if ExxonMobil would respond to the senators’ request, Routledge said no such tax credits were applied for or used. “We haven’t applied any tax credits. We are working with the GRA on paperwork on taxes,” he said, adding that the company remains “cash flow negative on a cumulative basis.”
