The government has rejected Tractebelﾴs proposal to construct the terminal at South Riding Point in East Grand Bahama, Prime Minister Perry Christie has confirmed.
The government had already said that Tractebelﾴs first proposed site, the Freeport Harbour, was unacceptable because it posed a safety hazard.
Prime Minister Christie has revealed that The Bahamas Environment Science and Technology (BEST) Commission refused to approve the latest proposal, a decision endorsed by Chinese investors in The Bahamas.
ﾓWhen the government was reviewing an application for the establishment [of] an LNG facility in East End, Grand Bahama, we received a correspondence directly from China indicating their objection to the placement there because they felt it would devalue land that should be regarded highly with regard to further touristic development,ﾒ he explained.
The Chinese have invested greatly in the Grand Bahamian economy, Mr. Christie noted, adding that they have been in discussions with the Grand Bahama Port Authority to expand their involvement in that islandﾴs economy.
As indicated, Tractebelﾴs latest blow came on the heels of the government rejecting its initial bid to construct a $700 million LNG plant and pipeline from Freeport Harbour to Florida.
Now, the company has to either revise its plan for The Bahamas or pull out of the race to supply energy to Floridaﾴs growing market.
Paula Rockstroh, Tractebelﾴs vice president of Corporate Communications, told the Bahama Journal on Tuesday that the company ﾓcontinues to remain committed to constructing an LNG project in The Bahamas.ﾒ
Tractebel recently combined its project with that of El Paso Corporation and Florida Power and Light in its bid to win approval from The Government of The Bahamas.
There is another LNG proposal before the government.
Prime Minister Christie recently disclosed that the governmentﾴs agreement with Virginia based AES Corporation ﾓis ready,ﾒ after undergoing adjustments.
Mr. Christie, however, pointed out that before giving that company the green light, the government has arranged a meeting with residents who have homes in the vicinity of AESﾴ proposed LNG plant.
Many of them reportedly oppose the project.
AES hopes to build an LNG conversion plant and pipeline to Florida from Ocean Cay, an aragonite-mining island south of Bimini.
By Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
