The South American oil-producing country of Guyana passed a law requiring companies to take responsibility for the losses caused by oil spills.

The Guyana Parliament passed an oil pollution bill later on Friday, requiring parties to be held accountable for damages caused by oil leaks, including ships. The bill was passed by a simple majority vote in a voice vote and is expected to be signed into law soon by President Irfaan Ali. Guyana's oil production is controlled by a consortium led by ExxonMobil, with Guyana's oil production expected to exceed 900,000 barrels per day this year. The South American country is trying to strengthen oversight of its emerging energy industry, as all of its oil and gas production comes from offshore fields.