A report issued by ABS Consulting at the behest of the U.S Federal Energy Regulatory Commission contradicts declarations made by officials of Tractebel Calypso Limited about LNG.
Based on the dangers posed by LNG, the report issued in May of this year also negates a 2001 U.S. Department of Energy report that federal officials cited in allowing LNG shipments to resume after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The new report said the earlier report didn’t take possible environmental impacts from a leak into account.
The report says a leak could create a flammable vapour cloud that might travel several thousand feet before dissipating into a stable state, and that vapours could explode in confined spaces.
And in some cases, a rapid change in the fuel’s temperature when it hits water, could cause an explosion even without an ignition source.
Current scientific models do not reflect how LNG is likely to spread from a spill in various weather conditions, said the report, which recommends that the U.S. Energy Department conduct a more thorough investigation into the dangers posed by LNG.
The report contradicts statements made by Dave Clark, project manager of Tractebel Calypso, the company seeking government’s approval to construct an LNG pipeline at the former Bahamas Cement Factory.
At a town meeting on Tuesday, Mr. Clark said that LNG is not explosive as it contains no oxygen and if it is spilled on water would only cool the surface.
And he dismissed reports that a leak in the natural gas pipeline would harm humans, other wildlife and plants.
But the report by ABS says the vapours from LNG can cause explosions and harm humans and wildlife and if spilled on water could cause an explosion even without an ignition source.
The Grand Bahama Port Authority has already given Tractebel the green light to construct the pipeline. Tractebel will pay the port an annual licence fee of $3 million, which port officials say will be used to upgrade educational and medical facilities.
The government has also approved the project and is negotiating a detailed “Heads of Agreement” with Tractebel, establishing the standards for construction and operations of the LNG terminal.
Tractebel officials have indicated that construction of the pipeline would require over 300 Bahamian workers over a three-year-period.
More than $170 million will be pumped into the local economy during the construction phase and an estimated $33 million annually through operations of the facility, according to Tractebel.
The project is expected to create 60 full-time career jobs for Bahamians.
The proposed Tractebel Calypso Pipeline will transport natural gas, which is said to be one of the cleanest and most efficient sources of energy in the world. The pipeline would originate from the old Bahamas Cement Factory and extend 90 miles to Broward County, Florida and come on shore near Port Everglades. Florida is facing rapidly growing energy demands because of an increase in population growth.
Construction of the Tractebel Calypso Pipeline is scheduled to begin in 2005 with transport of natural gas to begin in 2007.
Navardo Saunders, The Freeport News
