Falklands : FIG Proposes Action Plan for FIPASS
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 04.08.2012 (Article Archived on 18.08.2012)
The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) has made public a paper which outlines an Action Plan for the Falklands Interim Port and Storage System (FIPASS).
FIG Proposes Action Plan for FIPASS
By J. Brock (FINN)
The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) has made public a paper which outlines an Action Plan for the Falklands Interim Port and Storage System (FIPASS). Written by the Director of Natural Resources, the Director of Central Services and the Projects Director, the paper proposes an action plan for the Interim development of FIPASS between 2012 and 2018. The authors went on to say that the paper was written to ensure FIPASS remains fit for purpose whilst further work is taken on a new permanent port site.
Following a period of public consultation, Executive Council reviewed feedback from the industry and public consultation exercises and noted that Navy Point was the preferred location for both industry and public sector responders. It was also noted that people wanted FIPASS maintained until the new port was built.
Executive Council also approved detailed environmental surveys of Port William and the Navy Point site as well as approving geo-technical surveys of Port William and Navy Point where a port may be located. Technical surveys of swell and meteorological monitoring would also be carried out.
Already work on provisional costing over the next year or so is being carried out and it is expected that the project would near completion in approximately five years but it may not be ready for use until 2018, with two organisations already approaching FIG about port management at the proposed facility.
Suggestions for FIPASS are that berthing spaces be increased to five and this could prevent berthing failure until 2017. Realistically after that point losses could be in the region of £30,000.00 per day but this could result in oil rig down time which would cost approximately £1 Million per day. Already FIPASS has outlived several predicted 5-year periods so it is important to keep the facility up and running so it’s working capacity is not wasted.
Between now and 2013 detailed work will be undertaken to design and cost remedial and developmental work for FIPASS, identifying funding options for completion of the work, identifying and determining preferred options for the future of Port Management of FIPASS and the proposed new port and a decision on whether or not to proceed with a new port at Navy point.
A new port is a priority of the private sector as well as that of Government. Rockhopper’s farm out Agreement with Premier Oil lends a sense of urgency to the project and it is hoped that preliminary tasks will be completed by the end of September 2012. Morrisons Plc is Government’s preferred contractor in this area and as such has been approached. The company has indicated that it can complete work to the specified timeframe.
At the moment the only work to be undertaken will be detailed work on design and costing of remedial and development work for FIPASS. As FIPASS is a Government asset, at this stage FIG will fund the work in its entirety. In doing so, it will be necessary for FIG to undertake the tendering and appointment processes swiftly and flexibly to ensure the forecast tight deadlines for an increase of oil and gas activity are achieved. It is expected that funding to undertake this work is available through the Deep Water Consultancy Budget.
Due to legal implications in connection with the use and operation of FIPASS it is necessary for the work to be identified in relation to the assessment, survey work and operational issues.
|
