Oil plant under controversy

8 Jan 2007

Dominica government is defending plans to build a 50 million US dollar oil refinery in north of the capital Roseau.

As part of the PetroCaribe deal with Venezuela under which Dominica and other Caribbean countries are to get oil from the South American country under concessionary terms

“Environmentalist Atherton Martin says the oil plant could harm the environment, and damage Dominica’s eco tourism industry,but Dominica’s energy minister Reginald Austrie says the people will make a decision based on the facts put before them.”

Will a Oil Plant damage Dominica’s eco-tourism industry?…Please post your comments

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1 Comment »

Comment by Dan Subscribed to comments via email

2007-12-09 10:57:12

It would be a terrible mistake for Dominica to build an oil refinery!
Dominica is a treasure of natural beauty, and the island’s primary asset for economic development is tourism. Tourism spreads wealth into many hands, while a refinery provides weatlth only to an elite few (probably foreigners). An eyesore refinery would poison Dominica’s budding tourist industry.

The petroleum industry is starting a long decline, as global supplies dwindle. Here’s some interesting facts from MIT Technology Review:
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/14178/

Instead, Dominica should continue to develop its ample hydro-electric power, and install large wind turbines along the East coast, which has steady trade winds.

Don’t ruin Dominica’s prospects for eco-tourism, just to put money into the pockets of foreign tycoons.

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