By Denise Maycock

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS from Oban Energies say they have completed an environmental impact assessment and will sit down with the government on January 7 for expected negotiations on a new Heads of Agreement for the company’s proposed oil refinery and storage facility on Grand Bahama.

On the sidelines of a $25,000 contribution to Grand Bahama’s Superstar Rockers Junkanoo group, Alexander Grikitis, managing director of operations at Oban Energies, said the company is still committed to The Bahamas and its people.

“We are looking to show our support and showing we are here to support more jobs, and in the long-term Oban has now completed its EIA for our project,” he said on Saturday. “We are hoping to get our permitting going in the New Year, and early January we have a meeting with the government.”

Mr Grikitis said company officials are looking to provide new jobs hopefully this time next year.

“We will have hundreds of jobs for Bahamians, and we can continue community support going forward to the Superstar Rockers, and other community programmes,” he said. “But we saw what they (Superstar Rockers) did and what they are looking to do, and we want to be part of the community, and we thought this would be a good way to start.”

Oban Energies is proposing to build a $5.5 billion oil storage terminal and refinery project in East Grand Bahama. The government’s initial agreement with Oban sparked intense criticism, including points of opposition from several environmental organisations that took issue with lack of an environmental impact assessment, given the project’s risk factors.

The fallout prompted an admission from Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis that there were gross missteps in the government process.

“While our heart was in the right place, these missteps should not have happened. We must, we can and we will do better,” Dr Minnis said in March.

In the months following that admission, various Cabinet members have hinted at key improvements that would be made with a new HOA, but nothing concrete has been presented.

While in Grand Bahama on Saturday, Mr Grikitis told The Tribune that Oban would be meeting with the government on January 7.

When asked whether there would be any changes to the project, Mr Grikitis said: “I can’t really disclose that now until we talk to the government and then we will kind of get there.”

The Oban executive also said company officials have found office space in Freeport.

“We have identified a location at Grand Bahama Highway, and right after we get through the January 7 meeting with government, we plan to

get the lease signed and move the project forward and open the office,” Mr Grikitis said.

“As well as once we get through permitting, we plan to clear the first 100 acres to get an office up and going right away,” he added.

Earlier this month, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, who co-chairs the Cabinet subcommittee looking into Oban, said the government was still looking to pin down a firm date to rework the Oban heads of agreement, saying there was a proposed date for early January.

Meanwhile, in reference to Saturday’s donation, Mr Grikitis presented a cheque to the Junkanoo group’s leader Chauncey Grey at their shack at the old El Casino Building.

“We were approached by the Superstar Rockers, and we did not hesitate at all,” Mr Grikitis said. “We were looking forward to giving money to local community projects.

“Oban wants to show a commitment to the Bahamas and to Bahamian people. We know that this is good for tourism, and Junkanoo is a long tradition in the Bahamas,” he said.

Mr Grey said the group is happy for the donation.

“We love it. It goes to show that they came in and wanted to be a part of the community and Junkanoo puts smiles on people’s faces, and it’s Bahamians,” Mr Grey said. “I can’t think of no better way to stomp for your foot in Bahamian ground than by supporting Junkanoo.”

Mr Grey said sponsorships have been tough to come by and the donation from Oban came at the perfect time.

“It will give us a boost to go out on the road and represent our culture,” he said.