Falklands : Port William Chosen for future Deep Water Facility
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 27.10.2012 (Article Archived on 10.11.2012)
Falklands’ Executive Council has designated Port William (north of the Camber) as the location for a new deep-water port facility capable of meeting the demands of all incumbent industries by Executive Council (ExCo) at its meeting on 24th October 2012.
Port William Chosen for future Deep Water Facility
By J. Brock (FINN)
Falklands’ Executive Council has designated Port William (north of the Camber) as the location for a new deep-water port facility capable of meeting the demands of all incumbent industries by Executive Council (ExCo) at its meeting on 24th October 2012.
The decision follows significant work by the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) over the last four months following requests by the Oil & Gas Industry for FIG to provide confirmation of what facilities will be available to meet their needs, and the timescales for the delivery of these facilities.
Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who attended the meeting, expressed significant concerns about the size and impact that a proposal for a permanent 250-metre extension to the existing FIPASS facilities would have on the environment and community of Stanley. This helped reaffirm for them the need to ensure port facilities are delivered in a planned and considered way.
In withdrawing support for an extension to FIPASS, MLAs instructed FIG officials to quickly bring forward proposals and costed models for a full port infrastructure located at Port William.
“This announcement has been communicated to Rockhopper PLC and Premier Oil and will mean that alternative arrangements to support development of the Sea Lion field will need to be agreed with them” said MLA Dick Sawle. “However, ExCo was acutely aware of its responsibility to ensure a long term vision for Stanley and the surrounding areas which is both appropriate and cohesive with our way of life. Our major concern was that while we welcome and want to support all of the Oil & Gas Industry, we need its development to happen in the right place and that is not Stanley Harbour”.
Executive Council also approved the immediate investigation of the legal requirements and consequences of the creation of a Port Authority in the Falkland Islands, and further investigation of the Joint Venture led funding model with the private sector as a potential long-term strategy for funding port infrastructure.
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