(Eyewitness News) NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) said yesterday that Bahamians will likely learn within four to six weeks whether The Bahamas is an oil-rich nation.
Supreme Court Justice Petra Hanna-Weekes yesterday granted applicants leave to seek judicial review of the government’s approvals for BPC to drill an exploratory well in Bahamian waters, ruling that Save The Bays and Waterkeeper Bahamas Limited have “an arguable case”.
The judge, however, denied the applicants’ application for a stay of the ongoing drilling exercise — a process that began on December 20.
BPC Chief Executive Officer Simon Potter, commenting following the hearing, said he was gratified that the court has acted in a way that will enable Bahamians to learn whether there is oil in-country.
Potter said the court ruling means that the drilling of Perseverance #1 will continue, in accordance with the company’s license obligations, and consistent with the permits issued to BPC by the government of The Bahamas.
