Libyan delegation to discuss delineation of continental shelf with Malta

Raymond Sammut

May 20th 2010, 13:17

@ Vella, Bishop and Farrugia

It's not that Malta would not benefit, but the risk is simply too high. Just two examples which are current. One in Australia. A Chinese coal carrier plunged into the barrier reef. The damage is catastrophic and irreversible. In the Caribbean, BP is still at odds with itself as what to do with the tar balls. These two accidents are major current news. The two affected countries are big, and their economies can sustain the damage without significant impact. But clearly, the same would not apply to tiny Malta. An oil company can move on and go to drill elsewhere, but Malta cannot go anywhere, and her ecological treasures are irreplaceable.

Whether Libya is perturbed about Malta prospecting for oil is highly arguable. Libya gets edgy over the Italians getting too close to its waters, and mostly for political reasons.

At best, and with assistance from neighbours, Malta may prospect for natural gas and perhaps small-size oil-wells. This would certainly help Malta with short-term energy needs, and to fund renewable energy infrastructure projects. That would be a positive scenario both for Malta and for the region.

Christian Sciberras

May 20th 2010, 11:32

Finders keepers, that's all I say.

Especially when it's on _our_ territory. The EU might be given a fair commission over supplying rigging hardware.

One just can't keep up settling for Libyan bullying.

John Micallef

May 20th 2010, 10:32

Mela waslet l-ellezjoni??

Ghax generalment l-esprolazjoni ghaz-zejt f'malta, fi zmien l-ellezjonijiet jissemma!

m.farrugia

May 19th 2010, 21:51

jekk noqvghodu nitkellmu u nippjanjaw il-pajjiz b'if and buts zgur li ma naslu imkien. Mela ghax kumbinazzjoni gara incident dan se jibda jigri kuljum. Inkunu realistiċi halli naslu.

Raymond Sammut

May 19th 2010, 19:49

Malta should abandon the idea of prospecting for oil altogether. If oil were to be found, Malta would only earn a relatively small portion of the proceeds. At the same time, should an oil company develop some mechanical fault during drilling, the ecological damage for Malta would be disastrous. The odds are simply too harsh for Malta. The risk is far too high. In my view, the best course of action for Malta is to discourage, and prevent wherever possible, oil exploration in surrounding waters. For this purpose alone, the Maltese government should seek favourable delineation with neighbouring countries.