AMID objections from residents and City Hall, John Fernandes Limited has agreed to cease all works on its Chemical Warehouse at Houston Gardens until approvals are garnered from the City Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

On Wednesday, representatives from John Fernandes Limited met with City Mayor, Ubraj Narine and the Councillors of the City of Georgetown, among other local officials.
John Fernandes was proceeding with the construction of its warehouse at Houston Gardens, although the Council, EPA and the City Engineer’s Office served the company with orders to cease operations, and on Tuesday, the City threatened to take legal action.

One day after that public warning was issued, the company, in acknowledging the violation, agreed it would stop working on the warehouse. It noted, however, that several documents would be submitted including a proposal for the Petro-Chemical Bond, inclusive of a Feasibility Study and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The company is also required to submit a building plan for the construction of a shed to facilitate the transfer of Petro-Chemicals by Nalco Champion. A registered Surveyor’s Plan for the construction of the roadway that links John Fernandes Container Terminal to Area K, Houston is also expected to be submitted by the company.

City Council, on Wednesday, also used the opportunity to advise all citizens to comply with the building by-laws and all regulatory framework for construction works within the City.
The chemical warehouse is intended to be used by Nalco Champion Guyana. Nalco, in the past, had said that the chemicals that will be stored at the proposed warehouse at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt will be similar to common household items such as rubbing alcohol, paint thinner, gasoline and diesel.

The company, an international oil and gas company, has applied for ‘Environmental Authorisation,’ from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for the operation of a chemical warehouse facility at John Fernandes Ltd. Inland Terminal at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and for the transportation of chemicals from the Inland Terminal to John Fernandes Water Street Port. The chemicals would thereafter be transferred to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels offshore Guyana. That authorisation is still pending.