In line with the dramatic growth of Belize's oil and gas industry, the Department of the Environment will host a three-day training course on oil spill response and ecological risk assessment.

Chief environmental officer Martin Alegria said that the country was targeting front-line companies and organisations and is in the process of developing a robust response strategy for both terrestrial and marine oil spills.

"The main objective is to bring [in] key agencies such as coast guard, port authority, fisheries department police and the private companies that deal with petroleum products," he told RSV's flagship national radio station.

Private partners operating in the country include BNP, Esso and Petrofuel.

On the agenda for the meeting is an in-depth sensitisation and contingency planning for both crude and refined petrochemicals spills.

Esso transports large volumes of refined petroleum products into the Central American country.

Oil production began in Belize in 2005 after a discovery was made by Belize Natural Energy and a private partner based in Denver, Colorado.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development