Americas News
Bahamas Officials Inspect BORCO Facility
A team of Bahamas officials toured the Bahamas Oil Refining Company (BORCO) storage facility this week in response to a recent series of oil spills involving the company, and are expected to compile a report of their findings, local newspaper the Freeport News reports.
The Ministry of Environment and Housing, which joined other federal and local agencies in the inspections, said it was looking into BORCO's tank farm, offshore jetty, and piping.
BORCO, which is a subsidiary of U.S.-based Buckeye Partners, L.P. [NYSE: BPL] (Buckeye), has been involved in three spills in recent months, one in January when a bunker barge refueling operation spilled 201 gallons of oil, another in February when a pipeline apparently leaked oily residue, and a third in March, when divers inspecting the site of the February spill dislodged a small volume of oil from one line.
After the February spill, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said the government would investigate the situation and take action if necessary.
Among those speaking out against BORCO are former MP Maurice Moore and attorney Frederick Smith.
Patrick Hodgins, director of Health Safety, Security and Environment for Buckeye, said the meetings with officials were useful for all parties.
"It's always good to have regular meetings with the regulatory agencies," he said.
"The meetings were to give them a tour of the facility, how we operate, what we do, what our plans are and if there is an incident, how we respond."
