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March 13, 2026
March 13, 2026
Guyana has rejected Venezuela’s objection to a planned seismic survey in its maritime territory, saying the activities fall squarely within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and are fully consistent with international law.
In a statement on Thursday, the Government of Guyana said it “categorically rejects” claims by Venezuela that the three-dimensional multi-client seismic exploration programme would take place in “undelimited maritime areas,” describing the assertions as legally unfounded and inaccurate.
The government said the seismic survey will be conducted within maritime areas that belong to Guyana under the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela.
According to the statement, Guyana exercises sovereignty up to 12 nautical miles in its territorial sea and sovereign rights beyond that limit within its Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf. Those rights include the authority to explore, exploit, conserve and manage natural resources in those areas.
“Guyana’s decision to facilitate the acquisition of high-resolution seismic data through a 3D Multi-Client Seismic Survey represents a legitimate and lawful exercise of its rights,” the government said.
The government added that the seismic programme forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen scientific understanding of Guyana’s offshore petroleum basin, improve resource management and increase the attractiveness of the country’s offshore acreage to international investors.
The survey will use advanced geophysical techniques to generate high-resolution subsurface images to support exploration planning and the long-term governance of the offshore energy sector, the statement said.
Guyana also rejected Venezuela’s claim that the activities fall within undelimited maritime areas, saying the country has consistently exercised peaceful administration over its maritime spaces, including licensing and regulating offshore exploration.
The government noted that the boundary between the two countries was settled more than a century ago by the 1899 Arbitral Award, which it said provided legal certainty for both states.
It also recalled that the 1966 Geneva Agreement governs the process to address Venezuela’s claim that the arbitral award is null and void, adding that the agreement does not prevent Guyana from carrying out economic development activities in its territory or maritime areas.
Guyana further said Venezuela’s statement that it would not recognise concessions, licences or activities authorised by Guyana in its maritime domain has no legal effect under international law.
The government called on Venezuela to refrain from what it described as inflammatory and misleading statements that could undermine Guyana’s sovereign rights or discourage legitimate economic activity within its maritime domain.
