City of Coral Gables Commission calls for BPC’s licenses to be revoked; push for ban on offshore drilling in The Bahamas

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Opposition to Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) offshore oil drilling activities continue to mount from within the United States and particularly neighboring Florida, with the commissioners of the city of Coral Gables having approved a resolution urging the Bahamian government to revoke the company’s offshore oil drilling licenses and ban offshore drilling in […]

Environmentalists question oil drilling “safety zone”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Environmentalists who have been lobbying against exploratory oil drilling in Bahamian waters yesterday called it “distressing” and “concerning” that the government would move to establish the area surrounding Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) oil well as a safety zone and prohibited area. On Monday, the government tabled the Petroleum (Operation of Facilities) (Safety […]

BPC Perseverance Well #1 established as safety zone from ships and planes

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government has tabled new regulations to the Petroleum Act, 2016, that establishes the area around the Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) exploratory oil well near Andros a safety zone and a prohibited area. The Petroleum (Operation of Facilities) (Safety Zone)(Regulations), 2020, which was made on December 24, 2020, establishes a safety zone […]

BPC chief slams “half-baked” insurance policy allegations

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) yesterday again fired back at what it called “a series of half-baked allegations” regarding its insurance policies for its drilling activities, noting that by April The Bahamas will know whether it is an oil-rich nation. BPC CEO Simon Potter said in a statement yesterday: “International and local environmentalist […]

NGO calls on BPC to “come clean” on unpaid licensing fees

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Joseph Darville, chairman of Save The Bays (STB), one of two organizations granted leave for judicial review proceedings against Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) exploratory oil well, yesterday called on the company to “come clean” about its unpaid license fees. “We condemn BPC CEO Simon Potter’s flippant response to the very serious revelation […]

US business leaders call for stop to oil drilling in The Bahamas

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — International opposition to Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) oil exploration in The Bahamas continues to mount as several US business leaders are now urging the government to put a stop to offshore oil drilling. According to the Our Islands, Our Future organization, having just seen the US federal government ban offshore drilling in […]

Mitchell: PLP govt. would release BPC oil agreement “without question”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government would release the Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) agreement with the government for oil drilling in The Bahamas, according to PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell. In a recent interview, Mitchell urged the government to be “straight” with the Bahamian people regarding their position on oil drilling. He accused the […]

Bannister: Renegotiating oil deal royalties is in country’s best interest

DPM reiterates BPC deal is “airtight” But PLP chairman says Minnis administration must “man up” on issue NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister said renegotiating royalties in the government’s agreement with Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) would be in the best interest of the Bahamian people. While appearing as […]

Oil drilling “absolutely against” this nation’s best interest, says climate change expert

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Oil drilling is “absolutely against” this nation’s best interest as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to a local climate change expert and researcher. Dr Adelle Thomas, director of the Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Research Centre at the University of The Bahamas (UB) and a senior researcher […]

BPC: Bahamians to learn in four to six weeks if Bahamas is “oil rich”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) said yesterday that Bahamians will likely learn within four to six weeks whether The Bahamas is an oil-rich nation. Supreme Court Justice Petra Hanna-Weekes yesterday granted applicants leave to seek judicial review of the government’s approvals for BPC to drill an exploratory well in Bahamian waters, ruling that […]

Save The Bays “ecstatic” over oil drilling judicial review

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Chairman of Save The Bays Joe Darville, one of the environmental groups granted leave for judicial review proceedings of the government’s approvals to Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) to drill an exploratory well, said yesterday the organization was “ecstatic” over the judge’s decision. “Recognizing the oil drilling is a matter of vital public […]

GRANTED: Supreme Court grants leave for judicial review of exploratory oil drilling

Test well drilling to continue NASSAU, BAHAMAS  — Supreme Court Justice Petra Hanna-Weekes today granted applicants leave to seek judicial review of the government’s approvals for Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) to drill an exploratory well in Bahamian waters, ruling that Save The Bays and Waterkeeper Bahamas Limited have “an arguable case”. However, Weekes denied the […]

Govt. argues to keep drilling on course, cites risks to environment and investor confidence

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Following extensive submissions from counsel on opposing sides, Supreme Court Justice Petra Hanna-Weekes said today she will rule as soon as possible on an application for judicial review of the government’s approval for Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) to drill an exploratory well. The drilling exercise for the well, Perseverance #1, is underway some 90 […]