oildrilling

The Supreme Court was expected to hear the matter involving lawyers fighting and defending the exploratory drilling by Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC, today.

However, it was adjourned after Fred Smith QC, who represents the environmental groups, Waterkeeper Bahamas Ltd and Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay, said he was in pain due to an injury he suffered last year. Smith dislocated and shattered his left ankle, broke his left tibia, dislocated and sliced his right ankle, and broke two vertebrae while paragliding in the Dolomite mountains of the Italian Alps in 2019.

Why it matters

Bahamas Petroleum Company has begun drilling for oil just 40 miles of Andros. The exploratory drilling has faced major opposition from environmentalists who argue that the drilling risk harming the country’s marine environment.

Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley was to hear if BPC should be allowed to continue the oil drilling.

Attorneys for BPC is skeptical of Smith

Though Counsel for the BPC did not object to an adjournment, they questioned Smith’s motive, expressing concern that Smith may use the time to file more paperwork to help his case.

But Smith responded, “This is not a trick I am attempting to pull off to file more documents.”

But he did say that during the proceedings other matters may arise, adding that the main documents for the judicial review application have already been filed.

The parties will return to the Supreme Court for adjournment at 10 am Wednesday.

Environmentalists say oil drilling in the Bahamas could harm Florida coastlines.

Why it matters

• Florida has an ongoing ban on offshore oil drilling off its coast.
• Fears are that the exploratory drilling project in the Bahamas could pose a significant risk to Miami’s beaches.

What’s expected to happen today

• Stena Drilling, the provider of the IceMAX drillship is expected to begin operation today.
• The provider had given formal notification to Bahamas Petroleum Company of the intended operational start date, being 15 December 2020.
• BPC says it anticipates that it will take 4-5 days from this start date for the rig to be provisioned, loaded, and then transitioned to the drilling location for spud of the well.
• The Stena IceMAX is equipped with a Managed Pressure Drilling (“MPD”) system, an advanced well management and drilling safety system that represents the ‘cutting-edge’ of drilling technology currently available. 

What environmentalists say on the risk to Florida

Marc Yaggi, executive director for the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global network that advocates for clean water say the offshore drilling “is inherently risky and inherently dirty.”

He  tells New Times he fears the BPC project has the potential to become the next BP oil spill, which occurred in 2010 when an oil rig exploded. The explosion released enormous amounts of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, where some reached Florida’s shores and killed droves of marine animals.

The big picture

• Bahamas Petroleum Company believes there are supergiant oilfields to be found in Bahamas waters and is working to find them.
• Drilling of the first well will be the first in a series of five the company plans to drill around the Bahamas.
• Prime Minister Hubert Minnis says he opposes oil drilling, much to the delight of local environmentalists who believe the drilling poses harmful risks to the country’s marine environment.

Featured Image: BPC

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Hubert Minnis gave his opinion on the oil drilling operation in the Bahamas, telling reporters that he opposes oil drilling in the Bahamas, but his government was burdened with the agreement signed by the previous administration.

Why it matters

Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) intends to start oil exploration in the southern Bahamas. Stena Drilling, the provider of the IceMAX drill ship, has issued formal notification to BPC of the intended operational start date, being 15 December.

A number of local and international organizations have opposed the operation fearing that an oil spill can harm the marine environment.

The big picture

Minnis’ position has never been clear on the issue since inheriting the legally binding agreement from the Progressive Liberal Party who last held office.

Former prime minister, Perry Christie was once  a consultant to BPC when he was in opposition. And PLP leader Philip Davis’ law firm was BPC’s attorney when it first came to the Bahamas. His law firm no longer serve in that capacity.

What PM Minnis says

Minnis said on Friday, “I am totally against oil drilling in our waters, totally. I have said that before and that has not changed.

“Unfortunately we were saddled with an agreement that we met there and when we discussed it with the legal department we were advised that the commitment and everything was signed and basically we could not get out of it. If we could’ve gotten out of it we would’ve.”

What Bahamas Petroleum Company says

BPC says if oil is discovered in the Bahamas, it has “the capacity to be economically transformative for the nation of The Bahamas,” contributing “billions of dollars in royalty revenues to the national treasury.”

The company boasts that many countries in the region like USA, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Guyana, “have over the past decade safely and responsibly drilled offshore wells, developed or continue to develop offshore hydrocarbon resources.”

Worth noting

President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier in the year extending a ban on oil drilling off the Florida coastline. It is a reversal of the president’s previous support for oil drilling.

Featured Image: Bahamas Petroleum Company