A major new project is set to bolster economic infrastructure on theFalkland Islands, asArgentinasends a warning. The Sea Lion oil project was put forward by London-based Rockhopper Exploration and Israel-based Navitas Petroleum (NPDP) with a reported projected cost of £1.55billion. The field was discovered in 2010, and phases one and two of the operation has been approved by the The Falkland Islands Government, which has granted exploitation licenses valid for 35 years.
Argentine President,Javier Milei, warned in April that his government “will respond with all necessary diplomatic measures” to protect the country's interests in the face of the scheme. He added: “We act with determination against unilateral and illegitimate activities that seek to exploit resources belonging to the Argentine people."
The South American country considers hydrocarbon exploration and production schemes in the waters around the British overseas territory illegal, as it believes the islands are Argentine territory. There is also opposition to the project on the Falklands themselves.
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Environmental charity Falklands Conservation told the Express that its focus is on marine protection and making sure that the archipelago's inshore marine environment in particular "receives the level of protection that it needs".
In its 2024 response to an environmental assessment, the organisation suggested in relation to the prospect of new oil and gas fields that "seabirds are at risk from a number of impacts, including oil spills and bird-strike". It added: "In order to determine which seabirds could be at risk and how to avoid or mitigate such risk, up-to-date baseline data on the total range of seabirds that utilise potentially impacted areas are required."
It also suggested that there would be a risk of whale entanglements and collisions with vessels. Artificial light, underwater noise and oil pollusion are also points of concern.
Ian Ramsay, NPDP's chief operating officer, said: “The UK and Falkland Islands’ supply chain has already successfully delivered 29 exploration and appraisal wells in the region.
"The development will be progressed to industry and regulatory standards and create jobs both in the UK and the Falklands.”
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
