August 31, 2020 [Reuters] – The government of Caribbean island Bonaire has ordered Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela to move oil stored in its 10 million-barrel BOPEC oil terminal on the island to safer tanks due to environmental risks.

In a Wednesday statement, Bonaire’s Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) said PDVSA had not performed maintenance projects in recent years due to a lack of funding, resulting in a risk of leaks.

“The ILT considers this unacceptable and is taking the necessary measures in order to take away risks,” the agency said.

PDVSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

ILT said there were five tanks at the terminal filled with fuel oil, and that BOPEC in July reported that the floating roof on one tank had a leak, which could cause a spill in the event of heavy rain.

The agency said the terminal’s jetties were in such poor shape that ships could not load or unload oil. It said it would inspect two empty tanks and order the oil be transferred there.

The move is the latest blow to PDVSA’s oil refining and logistics network in the Dutch Caribbean islands off Venezuela’s coast. The company’s contract to operate Curacao’s Isla refinery has expired, and Aruba’s government has taken control of that island’s refinery, which was run by PDVSA unit Citgo.

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