The Government of Belize has, for the first time since 1995, come public with information on pending applications for vacant petroleum blocks.
While it is not the publication in the Government Gazette specified in law, the press release issued late this evening does make public the government’s intent to consider applications by five companies for vacant blocks in northwestern Belize, vacated by RSM Corporation and West Bay Limited.
The RSM block includes Gallon Jug, an area which Prime Minister Dean Barrow has told our newspaper is an area deemed to be of good potential, perhaps second best next to Toledo.
Three of the applicants are familiar names: Belize Natural Energy, which has a block adjacent to the concession area formerly held by West Bay; Paul Marriott’s company — Maranco Limited, which has interest in BNE but is in a dispute with current directors of the company; and Providence Energy Belize Ltd., a company owned by the Texas-based Todd Mortenson and whose local agent is the law firm of Musa and Balderamos.
Two unfamiliar companies have expressed interest in the Orange Walk concessions, according to the Government release: New Hope Natural Resources Ltd. and Cara Energy Belize Ltd.
Government pledges to inform the public, after the next Cabinet meeting, who the successful applicant is.
Right after we received the press release, Amandala requested comments from the co-chairs of the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage, Audrey Matura-Shepherd and Geovanni Brackett, as well as the chairman of the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, Edilberto Romero.
We have so far only received a response from Matura-Shepherd.
She told our newspaper that they “…commend the [Prime Minister] for keeping his promise that he will let us know about any application before it is even given out. This goes to show that if we as a people unite and ask our leaders to be accountable to us – we can make a difference in how our affairs as a nation are managed.”
Secondly, said Matura-Shepherd, “…now that we know who these companies are, we are able to do our search and before [we] enter our objections, if they do not comply with section 11 of the Petroleum Act. By sending this to Cabinet before any decision is made, we begin to engage the government so that we are made part of the decision-making process.”
She added that the area up for bid includes the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area – a nature reserve located in northwestern Belize, the largest terrestrial conservation area in Belize.
“I see it is close enough to BNE’s present area, and I guess they want to be able to expand their exploration area, but given all the local and international problems of BNE, it would not be advisable for Government to allow such expansion—and remember this is one of our protected areas!” she said.