AD concern over BP oil drilling near Malta
Alternattiva Demokratika this afternoon expressed concern about drilling in the Gulf of Sirte which is being taken in hand by BP.
Its spokesman on EU and international affairs, Arnold Cassola, said that it should be of extreme concern for Malta that BP, 'which has a disastrous track record with regards to safety measures in this field,' as seen from the recent Gulf of Mexico disaster, was about to start drilling an oil well in the Gulf of Sirte in Libyan waters.
"The Libyan government is already giving Malta a really bad name through the way it deals with irregular migrants. We ask the Maltese government, and the likewise subservient PL opposition led by Joseph Muscat, to speak up and show some dignity and self respect and not continue acting as if Malta were a colony of Libya," he said.
Carmel Cacopardo AD spokesman on sustainable development, observed that approximately 60% of Malta's drinking water is obtained through reverse osmosis. In the case of a major accident in the new BP oil well 500 kilometres away from Malta, a major source of drinking water may become unusable, he said.
"After the serious accident on the BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico which has been traced to incompetence and decisions doing away with safety procedures, a similar accident in a BP-run oil-rig is not an impossible happening. Such an accident will also have a long term effect on the livelihood of Maltese fishermen as well as on the tourism industry, not to mention the ecological havoc. AD calls upon the Maltese government to insist with the Libyan government as well as with BP that they are to ensure that all safety procedures are in place before drilling starts," Mr Cacopardo said.
He also called upon the UK government which has defended BP with the US administration, to use its good offices to ensure that the lessons learnt from the Gulf of Mexico are acted upon immediately.
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C Borg
Jul 28th 2010, 11:11
Deja Vu: Pipeline Explosion Causes Oil Spill in China http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/deja-vu-pipeline-explosion-causes-oil-spill-in-china/
BP Earns Thousands In Tax Credits By Exploiting Prison Workers (Video)
http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/bp-exploits-prison-workers-for-gulf-clean-up/
10 animals at risk of extinction from the Gulf oil spill
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/pets-animals/photos/10-animals-at-risk-of-extinction-from-the-gulf-oil-spill/threat-of-ext
Vasilisa Brandenburg
Jul 28th 2010, 10:20
we will soon have Oil lagoon instead of blue....
David Caruana
Jul 28th 2010, 09:37
Ever wondered if the Gulf of Mexico disaster happened in Malta?
Here's something to help you visualise it....
http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/
David Caruana
Jul 28th 2010, 09:11
If the Gulf of Mexico disaster had to happen at home.....
http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/
Noel Tonna
Jul 28th 2010, 04:54
The BP well will not be the only well in the Gulf of Sirte. I work for an Oilfield Service Company and I can assure you there are numerous wells in the Gulf of Sirte already pumping out oil and gas. The industry considers safety to both personnel and environment as it's priority. Yes accidents do happen and fortunately not often. Some of these wells have been on production for more than 15 years now! I am presently doing work on BP platforms and can assure every one that the spill in the Mexican Gulf has left a bitter impact and all rigs and platforms have upgraded their safety program.
Stephen Spiteri
Jul 27th 2010, 22:13
@ C Cassar, thank God we have you for enlightening us. 1.5 km underwater is already tough enough with conditions worse than working in space. Yes 200m may be nothing according to you, but it's still deeper in these treacherous conditions.
Stephen Spiteri
Jul 27th 2010, 19:46
@ C Cassar - You can't be more wrong !!
Read last Sunday's Times (London Edition) and you will see how it will be at least 200m deeper.
Amazing how people shoot at the hip without serious backup !
C Cassar
Jul 27th 2010, 20:15
200m (which in oil drilling depth terms is nothing) is not comparable to the 1.5km depth where BP have been drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Please, at least understand the basic facts aboutthis subject.
David Caruana
Jul 28th 2010, 09:26
gambetta wara l-ohra C Cassar!
Why don't you take your time to READ before you jump to conclusions:
"At a depth of more than 1700 metres below sea level, the new site in Libya’s Gulf of Sirte will be 200 metres DEEPER THAN the Gulf of Mexico"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7908149/BP-plans-deep-water-drilling-off-Libya.html
Ironically, you write "Please, at least understand the basic facts about this subject."
Do you?
G. Grech
Jul 27th 2010, 18:54
BP has learnt the lesson. The problem is the other drilling companies.
Ivan Xuereb
Jul 27th 2010, 20:27
Have they? Rachel Maddow says otherwise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHmhxpQEGPo Nothing was learnt 31 years ago; what guarantee is there that something was learnt now?
joe tabone
Jul 27th 2010, 17:19
AD is right about this issue.
However, can AD tell us with whom are we going to talk and lament? It is evident that there is more than one Gaddafi having the same face. At least, five were identified. Which one is the right person to speak to? The matter is baffling.
l.farrugia
Jul 27th 2010, 17:10
Bl-istess argument jiena nista nghid li la l-AD qatt ma giet eletta fil-parlament Malti ma ghanda qatt cans li xi darba tkun hemm.
C Cassar
Jul 27th 2010, 17:09
The drilling off Malta is no where near as deep water as that in the Gulf of Mexico, so many people here making themselves look very stupid. The reason Malta isn't drilling 'itself' is because they don't have the expertise or willing to make the long term investment necessary.
A Grech
Jul 27th 2010, 17:47
Dear Mr Cassar
You may want to enlighten yourself with regards to the depth by reading the following article from the Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7908149/BP-plans-deep-water-drilling-off-Libya.html
I am sure that you did not jump to conclusions all by yourself but it could easily be that another article stated otherwise. If that is the case would you please share it with us.
louis abela
Jul 27th 2010, 17:02
how come that we maltese cannot find our own well. bp has gone to alot to get to libya. how come no one of our goverment offered them to come to malta?
malcolm seychell
Jul 27th 2010, 16:21
The usual communists.
BP made a mistake, but Obama knew before about the problem but he did nothing.
Bernard Cachia Zammit
Jul 27th 2010, 17:02
What do communists have to do with this? Could you enlighten me?
Robert Callus
Jul 27th 2010, 17:19
So how does learning from Obama not to do the same mistakes make you a communist?
N.Calleja
Jul 27th 2010, 16:21
Although I agree with AD's concern, I think that 'insisting with BP and the Libyan government about the safety procedures are in place etc..'.is futile because these two entities can give a thousand declarations before starting drilling..but then? They can say that they will pay for any disaster that happens, but then? Might is always right in this world of ours!! Don't you remember the Saipem saga?
L. Bonnici
Jul 27th 2010, 16:19
I'm sorry but this whole argument is unfounded and doesn't make any sense at all. It's like saying that we shouldn't allow flights to come into Malta's airspace because of 9/11; or for Londoners not to use the tube because of 7/7 ....
What happened in the Gulf of Mexico was a disaster. No one denies that! But considering BP's operations as a threat would be crazy ... especially for the whole of Malta to be protesting against in, when we depend so much on drilled oil!!