He strongly believes that the implementation of a LNG terminal and pipeline would diversify the economy and create significant opportunities for Bahamians.
“The government of the Bahamas under the leadership of Prime Minister Perry Christie has not as yet to date made a firm and concise decision that we are prepared as a country to see the implementation of LNG terminals to be built and operated in the Bahamas.
“But, I am totally confident that at the end of the process a decision will be made that will positively impact the lives of all of us and generations to come,” Mr Miller told Tractebel and Grand Bahama Port Authority executives at a lunch on Thursday at Our Lucaya Resort.
Tractebel Bahamas LNG Limited is proposing to construct $500 million liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline at Freeport for the transfer of natural gas to Florida.
Mr Miller and Mr Zia Mian, energy policy adviser to the Office of Prime Minister in Jamaica, were taken on a tour of the proposed LNG site at the old Bahama Cement plant near Eight Mile Rock.
He believes that the site is an ideal location for Tractebel’s LNG terminal.
Mr Mian, who accompanied Mr Miller to Freeport, is presently assisting and advising the Jamaican government on development and implementation of national energy diversification strategy.
He said that there are plans underway in Jamaica to convert to gas base energy by implementing the use of LNG that would reduce the cost of energy in the country, which spent US $830 million last year on oil imports.
Mr Mian said the project in Jamaica is scheduled to come on stream in 2007.
“If a LNG terminal is built in the Bahamas to supply gas to South Florida, the Bahamas has a wonderful opportunity to piggy back on that to meet the demand and diversify the energy supply mix of the Bahamas,” Mr Mian said.
He believes that the major impediments to the economic welfare in the Bahamas are the cost of utility and labour.
“LNG is safe and a 90 mile pipeline to Florida can be done,” said Mr Mian.
Tractebel has already obtained all US approvals for the pipeline, and are awaiting final government approval on an EIA report that was submitted in December to the government and Grand Bahama Port Authority.
Mr Miller said that both Tractebel and AES are reputable international companies.
“I believe firmly that Tractebel and AES are two well known international conglomerates with full capability of erecting facilities in the Bahamas in the proper international manner with all safeguards in place.
“I am also of the view that Mr Edward St George (chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority) and his group would not have given a licence to Tractebel to be located at Freeport Harbour if they did not share the same views that the project was safe and sound.
“No matter what no one says, they can’t change my mind on that because I think that I have learned enough, and have visited many countries.”
Mr Miller says he is now faced with the difficult task of trying to educate the Bahamian people and getting his colleagues on board with something that is different to the country.
He stressed that the country can no longer be totally reliant on one sector.
“This is something that could expand and diversify our economic base and something that would supplement the tourism sector.
“We must expand our horizon and we must give our people other opportunities in other areas other than tourism and banking. And I would like to say how grateful I am to have the support of the people of EMR, and the Grand Bahama Port Authority for what they had done for Freeport and Bahamas, which I believe can’t be duplicated in the history of this nation,” he said.
Mr Miller said that there is tremendous potential for industry in the Bahamas, noting that oil exploration off Great Bahama Bank by Kerr McGee could change the complexion of the country’s economic life.
“That is the reason why I have also pushed for Kerr McGee…to be given a licence to explore for oil. And as we speak they are doing their seismic testing now that should be completed by June or July of this year with view of staking their first well on Great Bahama Bank,” he revealed.
“I believe there are great prospects from what they have told me,” Mr Miller said.
Denise Maycock, The Tribune
