GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Guyanese 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 that the move is intended to bring greater clarity, predictability and efficiency to the process, ensuring that businesses and companies understand exactly how long approvals will take once all the required documents have been submitted.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, through the Local Content Secretariat, said effective January 2026, sole proprietorships and landlords will have new applications processed within five working days, with 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 see new applications processed within 21 working days, while renewals will be completed 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 which 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, too, the ministry will be launching a portal where applications can be submitted online to optimise efficiencies in 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 for 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.