Guyana is number one option for Beal
by Gitanjali Singh
Guyana is now the number one option for Beal Aerospace Technologies to set up a satellite launch site and the company intends to steer its operation away from Mabaruma and Venezuela on the north and Santa Rosa on the south. But while negotiations with the government intensify on the framework for this multi-million dollar investment in the Waini area in the coming weeks, the company will pursue an alternative site for a short-term launch base until the base here is ready. Beal is planning to make its first satellite launch by the end of next year or early 2001 but is already way behind in its schedule to have the launch base ready. Its intention to launch from the secluded Sombrero Island did not come off as the British government has been slow in its responses and it is now pursuing Guyana, its fall-back option, as a priority. The BA-2 launch vehicle, which is being developed in Frisco, Texas has had an initial testing in McGregor, Texas late last year. The second test is on schedule for next month with the last test earmarked for November of this year and launching by December 2000. But while the vehicle is being developed in Texas and assembled in St Croix, US Virgin Island, the company is without a launch base to meet its deadline and thus is looking for a temporary third site to meet its deadline. Director of Corporate Affairs, Wade Gates, said recently that if the company ends up with a launch base in Guyana that does not mean that it would give up its interest in Sombrero Island as a possible site. However, he gave the assurance that an investment in Guyana will be a long-term one, which takes into consideration environmental concerns, and behaviour becoming of a good corporate citizen. Gates and David Spoede, Beal's director of government affairs, began a series of meetings yesterday, starting with media houses, political parties, non-governmental organisations and residents of Region One on what its investment in Guyana will entail. What the officials are expecting is a two-day dialogue with the persons they meet, noting that with the type of technology Beal is talking about, there is tremendous room for confusion. He noted that concern has been raised by the Venezuelan media that it might be a military satellite operation that Beal is getting into but stressed that this is not so. Gates reiterated that it is a commercial satellite operation. "We are here to learn and to listen as well. We are meeting with the media, the opposition parties, the NGOs and people on the ground to hear from them their views on the proposed investment as well," said Gates. The one concern raised about the investment is the potential harm that may come to the eco-system in Region One. However, Gates said that the company is considering all information made available to it on this. He said the company was assured that once it provides a five-mile radius buffer, its operation should be harmless. "We are going to try to find a place within the area [Waini] that is as remote as we can find," he assured. He said the 'footprint' of the launch site will take up a small area and the five-mile radius will be the buffer, giving the assurance that this does not mean the buffer area will be deforested. Spoede noted that the US government places a lot of restriction on operators of such technology and the company will have to meet the safety requirements of the US Federal Aviation Administration. The US State Department has not said anything to the company that would indicate it cannot transfer such technology to Guyana, Gates said. Guyana is not listed as one of the countries to which such technology cannot be transferred and Gates said Beal Aerospace has discussed the issue with the US State Department. The officials are hoping that a framework for the investment can be determined in as short a time as possible. It is looking for a framework similar to that enjoyed by Omai Gold Mines Ltd. The government has already indicated that it would be willing to make the necessary concessions to get this investment as it is not one which depletes the country's resources. A figure has not been put on this investment but Gates said it will be a substantial sum. It will yield 500 construction jobs in the short term and 200 permanent jobs. It will put Guyana on the map internationally and is expected to bring international media attention and business travel. The company is now putting together its environmental plan and will need to do a few geo-technical studies to identify the exact area where it will set up its base. Its head office will be in the city but the site will have an airstrip of international dimensions, warehouses, wharves and other facilities of a launch base.
|