Page 5 - LatAmOil Week 07 2023

LatAmOil COMMENTARY LatAmOil

“We are easy victims. I think there was a lot of don’t want anybody to think that I’m against the
pressure from the rank and file of the EPA dur- green movement, but there’s a nice balance that
ing the Trump administration not to allow us to can be struck. And in this case, and as I think
get permits. And now we’re feeling the backlash Senator Manchin said in the hearing, this is a
from those people who feel like they had an axe strategic need in the region,” he stated.
to grind,” Bryan told the St. Thomas Source. The
He went on to criticise the Biden administra- Elusive balance
tion’s energy policy as unrealistic. “You know, I As of press time, the fate of the refinery remains governor’s
think it’s great that the president has taken off undecided. The EPA has not yet unveiled the invocation of
on this whole go-green thing and encouraging final version of its plans for removing chemicals
people to use solar and renewables, down to from the site of the plant, and PHRT has not US political
EV cars and renewable systems,” he remarked. completed a revised timeline for re-opening.
“But at the same time, there’s still a considerable Meanwhile, the balance that Bryan claims to controversies
amount of carbon-based fuels that are needed to favour is likely to prove elusive. On the one hand,
keep our country going.” the governor’s invocation of the political divide is likely to
The governor went on to say that there was between Trump supporters and Trump critics make the
some support among US legislators for re-open- within the US all but guarantees that the matter
ing the Limetree Bay Refinery. He hailed Joe of restarting the refinery will prove contentious. matter of
Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia who On the other hand, Bryan’s own approach is
serves as head of the Senate Committee on not always balanced. After all, less than a year restarting the
Energy and Natural Resources, and described ago, the governor responded to the Russian
him as a “great friend” to the USVI. “Manchin invasion of Ukraine by saying it was time for the refinery more
was always lobbying to the EPA for us to get the USVI to ditch fossil fuels entirely and convert to contentious
refinery piece done,” he commented. 100% renewable energy as soon as possible. He
He called for compromise, indicating that he also claimed that his administration was ready
would rather not see US government agencies to team up with a major energy company that
give unconditional support to either the oil and was capable of setting up solar power facilities
gas industry or environmental activists. The that could cover all of the USVI’s electricity
matter is complicated, and there are many issues consumption within just a few months. (For the
that must be taken into consideration, he said. “I record, that claim never came to pass.). ™

The 540,000-bpd refinery has been idle since 2012 (Photo: Limetree Bay Ventures)

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