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The Baltra Fuel-Handling Facility
Major Milestone Towards a Sustainable Galápagos Achieved
The Baltra Fuel Facility: Green Energy in the Galapagos
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© WWF
After a tanker spill released 240,000 gallons of fuel into the waters surrounding the islands in 2001, WWF and PetroEcuador, the state-owned oil company, identified fuel transportation and storage as a major environmental concern that needed to be immediately addressed.
WWF and Toyota worked together to develop a technical assessment and design for renovations to the primary facility in Baltra, which included, among other items, replacing the old, leaking tanks and installing a state-of-the art computer system to monitor tank levels and facility operations. PetroEcuador allocated funds for implementation and construction was completed in December of 2004 in line with the highest environmental standards.
“Ensuring development is sustainable and environmentally sound is essential to protecting the places we treasure in the Galápagos.
Lauren Spurrier (WWF), Gustavo Palacios (PetroEquador) and Bill Reinert (Toyota Motor Sales) celebrate the facilities’ ISO 14001 certification.
© WWF / Eunice K. Park
A final investment of $1 million in 2008 refined the facilities’ environmental management system allowing it to attain official certification. In December of that same year, the facility was awarded official ISO 14001 certification by the Bureau Veritas Certification, a third-party certification body, verifying that the facility is environmentally sound. It is now one of only a few facilities in Latin America to hold this certification.
“This achievement demonstrates the enormous impact public, private and conservation entities can have when they join forces for a common goal,” said Lauren Spurrier, WWF’s Galápagos managing director. “The completion of this project and its certification are a milestone in our effort to protect one of the world’s most precious and historically significant eco-regions and preserve the livelihoods of the many people who depend on these islands for their survival.”
PetroEquador employees discuss business at the fuel-handling facility on Baltra Island.
© WWF / Eunice K. Park
The Galápagos, made famous by Charles Darwin in his ‘Origin of Species,’ remain one of the most pristine tropical island systems in the world. But the islands have seen dramatic changes since Darwin’s exploration, including a massive population surge and an expanding tourism industry. The rapid growth has caused serious hazardous waste management problems, straining the islands’ fragile ecosystems.
© Michael Ross/WWF
The fuel-handling facility on Baltra Island is part of the Galapagos Energy Blueprint. The blueprint is a 10-year plan -- developed by WWF and Toyota, in conjunction with the Equadorian Government -- to transform all high pollution energy systems now in use in the archipelago to sustainable renewable energy sources and clean technologies.
“The Galápagos now has one of the safest and most modern fuel depots in Latin America,” said Bill Reinert, national manager for advanced technologies at Toyota Motor Sales. “WWF’s conservation expertise and Toyota’s engineering prowess are the perfect combination for real transformation in the Galápagos and we look forward to continuing to work with the Ecuadorian Government to reform the islands’ energy systems and guide the region to a more sustainable future.”
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