By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahama Rock’s plan to expand Freeport Harbour westwards by aggregate mining almost 270 acres, enabling it to maintain its 84-strong workforce and annual $25m economic impact, was yesterday hailed as “transformational” for the city’s maritime ambitions.

The project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA), completed in October 2024 by Bahamian environmental consultant Bron Ltd, details Bahama Rock’s ambitions to excavate and quarry aggregates from a large section of the 515-acre former Bahamas Cement Company property that it now poised to acquire. Once sufficient material is extracted, a new turning basin and “deep-water berths” will be created to facilitate greater use of Freeport Harbour and its value as an economic asset.

The proposal by Bahama Rock, which is owned by Martin Marietta, the multinational aggregates, asphalt and ready-mixed concrete supplier, will be subjected to public scrutiny at a July 29 consultation set for the Foster B. Pestaina Centre as part of the process for obtaining certificates of environmental clearance (CECs) and other key approvals.

While the EIA is now almost two years old, the meeting signals that Bahama Rock is now poised to pull the trigger on plans that will sustain its presence in Freeport for some years to come. No timeline was provided for when aggregate mining will be completed, and Freeport Harbour expanded, although the company confirmed that the Bahama Cement Company purchase hinges on it obtaining all mining, environmental and other necessary regulatory approvals.

The move coincides with increased economic activity and investment directly related to Freeport Harbour, which is 50/50 owned by Hutchison Whampoa and the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) Port Group Ltd affiliate. Besides the arrival of the Grand Bahama Shipyard’s two dry docks, and continued growth at the Container Port, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is investing $450m at Billy Cay to expand the Harbour’s cruise berths together with a beach club and upgraded retail village.

“Bahama Rock proposes to expand the Freeport Harbour,” the EIA asserted. “The developer has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire Bahamas Cement Company, which is the owner of a former cement plant on Grand Bahama along with the approximately 515-acre site on which the former cement plant is situated.

“The harbour expansion would consist of around 269.39 acres of the total Bahamas Cement Company property. Approximately 136 acres of the property contains abandoned infrastructure and is dominated by invasive species. Once excavation of aggregates at the site is complete, the site will result in an expanded Freeport Harbour, which is due east of the Bahamas Cement Company property.

“Excavation refers to the process of removing earth, soil, rock or other materials from the ground above and below the sea level to create a void or cavity. This Harbour expansion will create additional turning basins and deep-water berths in the Harbour. The closing of the acquisition is conditioned upon the developer’s receipt of certain approvals, including receipt of approvals of related permits.”

The EIA also suggested that the Bahamas Cement Company acquisition, and subsequent Freeport Harbour expansion, will be critical to securing Bahama Rock’s immediate Grand Bahama future given the drop-off in current aggregate mining activities.

“The proposed project will enable Bahama Rock to retain employees, as current mining activities are reduced,” it revealed. “Retaining 84 employees is important to the Grand Bahamian economy.

“It is estimated that Bahama Rock contributes $25m to the Bahamian economy annually through employment of 82 Bahamian citizens, and through direct and indirect contracts and support services at its existing operations. These socio-economic benefits can be expected to continue with the Bahamas Cement Company acquisition and the continued harbour expansion.

“Once aggregate mining is completed, the Freeport Harbour will be expanded to accommodate more vessels and widen the turning basin. This expansion could lead to additional commerce through the Container Port or other job-creating businesses. During decommissioning, additional construction jobs will be created as the [Bahamas Cement Company] site is landscaped and graded.”

The project benefits touted by the Bahama Rock EIA include creating “a reliable supplier” mined aggregate material “that can meet the demand from the Bahamian construction community”. Other advantages cited included “increasing access to shipping goods and supplies, as well as providing a naturally-sourced product for sale locally” plus “recreational opportunities for locals and expanded tourism” together with beach and dune replenishment.

Bahama Rock added that the project also creates “potential for a larger container port/economic trade zone” and “continued long-term employment and benefits of Bahama Rock’s current Bahamian employees, and increased employment opportunities should market conditions improve”.

It continued: “Bahama Rock’s continued customer presence for the Bahamian companies that presently supply the Freeport facility, the absence of which would likely make stone for construction in The Bahamas more expensive and less available, especially when economic conditions tighten the supply.

“Once the quarry is decommissioned, the Freeport Harbour will be expanded to accommodate more vessels and widen the turning basin.”

Ralph Hebpurn, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president, yesterday told Tribune Business that Bahama Rock’s plans to create a deeper and wider Freeport Harbour fit well with MSC’s planned investment and the GB Shipyard and Container Port’s models. It also further opens up the Harbour to other activities and investors, exploiting its US proximity and boosting value as a strategic asset, while also dovetailing with Grand Bahama’s ambitions to become a true maritime hub.

However, Dillon Knowles, Mr Hepburn’s immediate predecessor as GB Chamber president, yesterday questioned whether the project is designed more to benefit Bahama Rock - and both secure and prolong its presence in Grand Bahama - than Freeport Harbour and the island’s wider economy.

“I just think that the Port Authority and the Government need to ascertain what is the ultimate benefit of this particular project, and how best to turn it into something that is of benefit to Grand Bahama and not just an aggregate operator,” he explained to this newspaper. “Is it intended to be of benefit to Freeport Harbour or just intended to be a mining exercise?”

Mr Knowles also suggested that the Bahamas Cement Company property would be better off converted into a cruise port rather than MSC’s planned Billy Cay location. “If we’re going to develop the Bahamas Cement property, we should be developing it with the specifications and configuration of a cruise port,” he argued, “which would make the cruise port more appealing than being in the midst of an industrial harbour and allow it to be purpose built.

“I would not build a cruise port at Billy Cay. It’s smack dab in the middle of an industrial harbour. I believe it would be better used for a cruise port and leave Billy Cay for its originally intended use, which was more industrial and container port space.”

Mr Hepburn, meanwhile, said that based on a meeting he attended yesterday with unnamed developers, “there’s going to be a need” for increased berthing and mooring capacity within Freeport Harbour due to both MSC’s Billy Cay development and the increase in traffic to the Grand Bahama Shipyard.

“The capacity to bring in bigger ships needs a deeper and wider harbour,” he added. “We’ll definitely have to look at expansion of the inlet. Bahama Rock is on the inlet part coming into Freeport Harbour. They’ll have to raise that a bit, open that up so ships can come in to facilitate what MSC is doing and comfortably berth and dock safely at Freeport Harbour, making it deep for the size of their ships.

Noting that MSC’s four extra cruise ship berths will require additional space to accommodate all vessels entering Freeport Harbour, Mr Hepburn said Bahama Rock’s project will also boost Grand Bahama’a designs on becoming the top maritime centre in The Bahamas.

“It bodes well for the development of the Freeport Harbour and where we’re going with the maritime industry in Grand Bahama,” he told Tribune Business. “We’re pushing for Freeport to be the main centre for maritime business in The Bahamas. This goes to strengthen our position and stance that we’re doing what it takes to make us world class when it comes to the maritime industry.

“All the environmental studies have to be done and on point before anything happens. Some people might disagree, and say we are losing natural resources, but one hand washes the next. It benefits development. These things need to be done to help us move along in our development. The expansion of Freeport Harbour, and mining of the harbour by Bahama Rock, which they have to do as part of their agreement, goes hand in hand with development of the harbour.

“We’ll be actively participating to make sure everything is on the up and up, and in line with what is happening. We don’t want to disenfranchise anyone, work against the environment or residents at the western end of the island, but once we don’t adversely affect them, the environment and sea life it’s a positive development that bodes well for all.”

Mr Hepburn said redevelopment of the former Bahamas Cement Company site would also remove “an eyesore” and “make better use of the land and that area”.