FREEPORT ﾖ Following the recent fatal natural gas explosion in Belgium, a well-known environmental activist warns that the Bahamas government and Bahamians should carefully consider the serious potential dangers of the proposed LNG projects for the Bahamas, particularly at Freeport.
ReEarth Founder Sam Duncombe believes that Tractebel’s proposed LNG project at Freeport Harbour, in particular, poses a serious risk to the entire industrial park area of Freeport.
“The issue for Freeport in particular is a serious one,” she stressed, noting that it would put many civilians and other businesses at risk.
“I think that the problem is that if that plant was to be proposed in Boston Harbour today it would not be approved in the United States,” Ms Duncombe said.
Last week, about 15 people were killed and more than 100 were seriously injured when a natural gas pipeline in Belgium exploded.
Incinerated
According to reports, construction workers damaged the underground gas line, which erupted in a pillar of flames. Everything within 400 yards of the explosion was melted or incinerated. It also crushed buildings in an industrial park, scorched cars, and burned farm fields.
Ms Duncombe said the Belgium incident is the second large scale gas explosion in six months. There was also a fatal explosion in January in Algeria, she said.
“The industry keeps telling us it is a very safe industry, but it isn’t,” she said.
“They have to stop telling people, stop telling the Bahamas that this is a safe industry. That the accidents are rare when there have been two in the space of six months. And there have been other incidents of explosions before and they just gloss over that.”
Tractebel proposes to construct a multi-million dollar terminal and 90-mile pipeline for the transfer of natural gas between Freeport and South Florida, to supply the state’s growing energy needs.
The company is one of the largest energy-suppliers in the world with projects in more than 100 countries and some 63,000 employees, 24,000 of which are outside Belgium.
The Tractebel project, which is one of three proposed LNG projects for the Bahamas, is still awaiting approval by the Bahamas government. AES and El Paso are proposing similar facilities in Bimini and east Grand Bahama.
Ms Duncombe claims that LNG is not as clean and safe an industry as industry developers say it is.
“It may be cleaner than oil or coal, but it is still not a clean industry. And, I think that Tractebel is misinforming people or certainly misguiding people by suggesting that the plant would be allowed to happen in the US,” she said.
Accidents
Ms Duncombe said that while companies do not build their projects to fail, the reality is that accidents can happen and have occurred for whatever reasons.
If there was to be an explosion at the Freeport plant, she believes that it could create a chain reaction in the entire industrial area.
“And, in terms of the pipeline blowing as it did in Belgium that could very easily happen anywhere along the route of the pipeline, and what happens to our marine environment at that point?” she asked.
“I think we need to stick to what we know how to do well, and leave the industry to the people who actually want to use the energy which is the US. I don’t see why we should bear the burden for their energy needs.
“I think it is incumbent on the government to really put the cards on the table and let us weigh this situation out to determine whether or not the Bahamas will actually benefit from such a terminal being here,” Ms Duncombe said.
Project
Although the project will provide jobs, she does not think that it is a good enough reason to put the lives of hundreds or thousands of people at risk.
“I am not trying to belittle people who need a job because I have been there before so I understand the desperation of people who need work. But, if getting 30 people a job is going to put hundreds or thousands of people at risk, I think people need to seriously weigh those benefits and downfalls.ﾒ
Ms Duncombe, who was looked on as an outsider by Eight Mile Rock residents for expressing her opposition at an initial town meeting held there by Tractebel, said it is unfair of people to demand that certain jobs are given because they need a job without thought to the consequences.
Many residents of Eight Mile Rock support the project. They hope that it would result in jobs for residents and that investors would assist with the infrastructural improvements in that outlying settlement.
A petition by residents in support of the project was forwarded to the prime minister’s office in New Providence.
Dave Clarke, project manager for Tractebel in Freeport, was off the island and could not be reached for comments up to press time.
Real Estate businessman Robert Hall said: “That (explosion) happens once in a 100 years and I am not concerned about the LNG project I think it is good programme.
ﾓI would like to see it approved quickly.
“We are just dragging our feet at the moment I would like to see it approved and go ahead and let’s put some money in our pockets,” he said.
Insurance executive Donald Ward said the project would be something positive for the Bahamas.
“I think it would do for us pretty much what Atlantis did for Paradise Island. People notice you when you are engaged with international projects such as this.
ﾓThe pros and cons and danger of it is no more dangerous than any other project when we are dealing with any type of hazardous material.
“So there is no extraordinary danger in this project.
ﾓIt has dangers and it could be 100 years or 10 days after completion, the fact is that it is not all that different from any other hazardous material related project,” Mr Ward said.
Architect Carver Grant said it would help to bring industry to the island.
“We are not inventing the wheel because these plants are 100 years old and one being here is an added thing for us,” he said.
The Tribune
August 4, 2004
