Beal Enters Into Agreement To
Develop Spaceport Guyana
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Beal Guyana Launch Services, LLC (a subsidiary
of Beal Aerospace), signed a 99-year agreement with the government
of Guyana to develop Spaceport Guyana in Essequibo County. The
‘primary site’ of the launch facility comprises 10,120
hectares (25,000 acres) located between the Waini River and the
Atlantic Ocean. This area is surrounded by a buffer zone
encircling the ‘primary site’ of approximately 30,360 hectares
(75,000 acres). The agreement includes a ‘remote site’ of
approximately 4.5 hectares (10 acres) about 40 km (25 miles)
southeast of the primary site where a radar and tracking station
will be established.
Venezuela is protesting
against the deal since Essequibo County is part of a contested
area between Venezuela and Guyana.
The ‘primary site’ and ‘remote site’
in Guyana have been sold to Beal for US$3 per acre and are to be surveyed
prior to payment for the land. It is estimated that Beal will pay
US$75,030 to Guyana. This amount will be paid within 30 days of
the signing of the agreement adjusted approximately when the
survey is completed. The buffer area will be leased to Beal for
US$1 per acre paid annually; that is estimated to be US$75,000 per
annum. Current acreage fees in the region for Timber Sales
Agreements average between US$0.08 - US$0.15. The buffer zone area
will be accessible to residents within its environs for the
purpose of fishing and other activities. Beal is not permitted to
engage in mining, forestry or any other commercial activity in any
of the land sold or leased to it which is not directly related to
the launching operation without the specific approval of Guyana.
If Beal has no more than six successful
launches in a calendar year it will pay the government -
US$25,000. If it does more than six but no more than 12 successful
launches in a calendar year, it will pay US$50,000 per successful
launch. If it does more than 12, but no more than 18 successful
launches in a calendar year, it will pay the government US$75,000
per successful launch. If 19 or more successful launches are done
in a calendar year, the company will have to pay a fee of
US$100,000 per successful launch. However, Beal's obligation to
pay Guyana for a successful launch shall not exceed 1 per cent of
the contract amount between Beal and its customer for any such
launch. Beal will also pay Guyana US$100,000 per year for
consideration of all administrative expenses and fees incurred or
chargeable by the Government in connection with the project, but
not limited to the cost of stationing and housing customers and
administrative officers at the facility.
As part of the agreement Beal will get a 99-year reprieve on
taxes.
Beal is expected to hire 500 Guyana residents during the
construction phase of the spaceport, which will take three to five
years to build, and hire 200 Guyana residents once it opens.
The launch facility will be designated as a
port of entry, both by air and sea and Beal will operate docks on
the Waini River for access to the ‘primary’ and ‘remote
sites’ and will be licensed under the Agreement to do so and
may, with the Government's approval, establish docks outside of
these sites.
The deal with Beal will not be considered
closed until the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency issues an
environmental permit for the operation. Beal has retained ICF
Consulting to do an environmental impact assessment, and the
results from this are expected in a year to 18 months. ICF was the
company which did the assessment for Sombrero. Beal is applying
for an interim permit to drain and clear the area on the coast
between the Waini River and the Atlantic Ocean.
Guyana's recurring revenue from the deal once
Beal starts to successfully launch satellites is expected to be
US$775,000. However, in the initial period, this sum is expected
to be in the vicinity of US$175,000 per year. It will receive
US$75,000 for the sale of the land now. Beal will pay up to
US$400,000 in relocation expenses for some 50 families currently
living too close to the space port site. The agreement Beal had
with Sombrero Island (Anguilla) was to pay a flat lease of
US$280,000 per year. There were no launch fees in the agreement.
The first launch of Beal's BA-2 from
Guyana is
expected, at the earliest, to be in 2003. Beal is continuing talks
to refurbish a launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
which would be the site of the company's debut launch, scheduled
in about three years. Florida officials still hope to persuade
Beal to build a rocket-manufacturing plant and bring all its
launch business to the Cape Canaveral area. Late last year,
Florida offered Beal a US$10 million package of tax breaks,
training funds and grants to entice the company to build
manufacturing and launch facilities there.
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