# Guyana Villagers Reject Onshore Oil Plan

> Guyana's Rupununi villagers reject Cataleya Petroleum's onshore oil drilling proposal.
- Title: Guyana Villagers Reject Onshore Oil Plan · The Rio Times
- Summary: Guyana's Rupununi villagers reject Cataleya Petroleum's onshore oil drilling proposal.
- Keywords: guyana, rupununi, cataleya petroleum, onshore oil, takatu block, north rupununi district development boar, michael williams, villagers, oil exploration, environmental protection agency, The Rio Times
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/guyana-rupununi-villagers-reject-cataleya-onshore-oil
- Author: Valentina Gómez
- Published: 2026-11-10T19:33:34+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: guyana, rupununi, cataleya petroleum, onshore oil, takatu block, north rupununi district development boar, michael williams, villagers, oil exploration, environmental protection agency, news, world
## Villagers Reject Plan
Guyana's North Rupununi villagers have told Cataleya Petroleum they do not agree with onshore oil drilling on their land.

> For the people of North Rupununi, we give a no-no to this
## Company Background
Cataleya Petroleum, a Guyanese company founded in 2025 by Ryan Pereira, Michael Cawood and Ryan Ramjit, wants to explore for oil and gas in the Takatu Block.
## Villagers' Concerns
Villagers say they have not benefited from existing oil activity and ask how long the company will train local people.
## Government Stance
Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat said Cataleya has approval to talk to residents but no decision on activities.
## Next Steps
Cataleya needs EPA and Ministry of Natural Resources approval before onshore drilling can begin.
## What's at Stake
The dispute centers on who benefits from oil exploration and whether local communities get fair treatment.
## No Details Published
The size of the block, number of wells, and investment have not been published by Cataleya.
## Key takeaway

Guyana's North Rupununi villagers have rejected Cataleya Petroleum's onshore oil exploration plan, requiring government approval for environmental and land rights.