BEIJING – The quick and efficient response to the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Xizang attests to China’s good governance and its tenet of putting the people and their lives first. Shortly after the quake rocked Dingri County on Jan. 7, President Xi Jinping ordered all-out rescue efforts to save lives and minimize casualties. A meeting of the central authorities called for making utmost efforts to treat the injured, working hard to meet the basic living needs of those affected, and accelerating post-disaster recovery and reconstruction. The mobilization of personnel and resources was done as quickly as possible to save every life and provide warm shelters for residents displaced by the quake, which left 126 people dead and 337 injured. The speed and efficiency of the rescue efforts have ensured the safety of people’s lives and property to the greatest extent.

The rapid response was impressive. Within 10 minutes of the quake, rescue planes were in the sky; in less than half an hour, rescue operations were carried out in the epicenter area. Nine hours after the quake, all damaged road sections were repaired and ready for traffic, and mobile communication signals were restored. On the first night after the earthquake, affected people were moved to tents and provided with hot meals. The efficient relief operations reflect the huge improvements in Xizang’s infrastructure, ranging from roads, power to telecommunications, as well as the good governance in Xizang. The region upgraded its emergency response to the highest level on the first day of the quake. Helicopters were used in transporting some injured residents. In one case, local authorities arranged for a helicopter to transfer a five-year-old girl seriously injured in the quake from Xigaze City to the regional capital Lhasa — a 237-km-long journey which took one hour and seven minutes, saving time for treatment.

Besides funds and materials allocated by multiple ministries and departments, Xizang received aid from across the country, including a medical team from Shanghai, a batch of donated platelets and 50 tonnes of Tibetan tea from neighboring Sichuan Province. A number of monasteries and temples both in and outside Xizang offered donations. With the support of the central authorities and the whole country, Xizang has achieved remarkable achievements over the past decades, including eliminating absolute poverty. Highways, railways, and airports have linked the border region in southwest China more closely with the rest of the country, allowing help to roll in from all quarters. With strong nationwide support, those affected by the quake will have their homes repaired or rebuilt and resume living normal lives as soon as possible. Xizang will continue its march towards modernization along with the whole nation. (Xinhua)

Photo: A staff member of the State Grid helps earthquake-affected residents at a temporary resettlement site in Pucun Village of Sagya County in Xigaze City. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

More than a dozen Guyanese and two organizations have requested the United States Export Import (US EXIM) Bank to share documents relating to the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project it has provided a US$527M loan to support. In a statement to the media, the citizens, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes, Danuta Radzik, Alfred Bhulai, Vincent Adams, Andre Brandli, Vanda Radzik, Janette Bulkan, George Jaikaran, Karen de Souza, Fredrick Collins, Darshanand Khusial, Susan Collymore, Halima Khan, Joy Marcus and Wintress White explained that the request was made on January 10, 2025. The Oil & Gas Governance Network (OGGN) as well as the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) also attached their signatures to the letter.

It was explained that the request is now awaiting the Bank’s reply to issue a processing number for a response from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Unit within the EXIM Bank’s system. According to the statement: “Earlier in their interactions with EXIM Bank, members of Civil Society in Guyana were given the reference number 202500055F on their third attempt to obtain loan application documents.” Additionally, the citizens pointed out that they are also awaiting information from US-EXIM Bank on their request for other documents. They had requested any feasibility study for the Wales location; any feasibility study for the use of associated gas, per Article 12 of the Petroleum Sharing Agreement 2016; any Gas Utilization Plan and any other document relating to the GTE project. The US EXIM Bank, on December 26, announced that it has finalized a US$527M loan aid the construction of a natural gas separation plant; a 300 megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbine power plant and services related to the gas supply pipeline near Guyana’s capital, Georgetown.

Guyana’s application to the Bank was revealed since April 2023. The country had initially applied for a US$646M loan.

Since no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and feasibility studies were conducted for the controversial project, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo informed that the US EXIM Bank did its own due diligence. He said: “U.S. EXIM Bank did its own feasibility study, it did an environmental study and it made the loan to the government of Guyana.” Subsequently, the former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams challenged the VP to publish the studies.

Last Thursday during his weekly press conference, Jagdeo was asked whether he would release the documents when he instructed citizens to seek the information from the Bank. He argued: “Everything we published… The Kaieteur News used to make a big issue about, ‘Oh we didn’t publish all of these contracts that were signed with the oil companies,’ so we published even the one signed under APNU. We put all of the environmental permits online…now, you want the environmental and feasibility studies from EXIM Bank. Ask EXIM Bank for it.” Chair of the US EXIM Bank, Reta Jo Lewis is presently in Guyana on a four-day visit. On Friday, she signed the loan agreement while on a site visit to the Wales development site. (Kaieteur News) 

Photo: Chair of the US EXIM Bank, Reta Jo Lewis. (Kaieteur News)