Bahamas Petroleum Company PLC says it looks forward to drilling Perseverance well on-schedule as it responds to activist legal c

“Yesterday’s application for a judicial review, an extension of time and a stay, from a group of environmental activists, is entirely without merit,” said chief executive Simon Potter.

() on Thursday updated on an application to the Supreme Court of The Bahamas, made by activists, seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision in February to grant environmental authorisation for the imminent Perseverance exploration well.

Additionally, the applicants seek a stay of the Environmental Authorisation pending the outcome of any judicial review, an extension of time to make their application, and have raised a number of other legal arguments in support of their claims, the AIM-quoted company noted in a statement.

The applicants have specifically sought to exclude BPC from being heard in relation to the matter, BPC added.

BPC told investors that it understands that the Bahamas government will oppose the application, meanwhile, BPC intends to apply to the court to be heard as a person affected and to oppose the application.

Moreover, it added that given drilling operations are scheduled to begin before the end of December it is anticipated that the application for a stay will be determined definitively by the Court on an expedited basis.

“BPC believes the application to be without legal basis or merit and considers that there should be no legal impediment to proceeding with the drilling of the Perseverance-1 well,” the company stated.

Chief executive Simon Potter said: “Yesterday’s application for a judicial review, an extension of time and a stay, from a group of environmental activists, is entirely without merit.

“BPC will vigorously oppose the application, and we understand that the government of The Bahamas will be doing likewise.

“BPC’s drilling plans have been public knowledge for almost a decade, and the government provided Environmental Authorisation to BPC in February 2020, following an extensive program of work.

“Environmental activists could have sought to bring this application at any time – that they have waited until now, on the cusp of drilling, speaks to their true agenda, which is not any real concern for judicial process but simply to disrupt and stop our lawful activity.”

He added: “We look forward to proceeding with Perseverance-1 on schedule, and fulfilling our licence commitments to the government of The Bahamas.”