Watch out for oil drilling off Libya, AD warns
Malta should show some dignity and self respect and stop acting as if it were a colony of Libya, Alternattiva Demokratika said.
The Green Party said it was extremely worried at the planned oil drilling off the Libyan coast in the Gulf of Sirte by the beleaguered multinational company BP, which had a “disastrous” track record with regard to safety measures.
AD pointed out that about 60 per cent of Malta’s drinking water was obtained by treating sea water and if a major accident were to occur 500 kilometres away, the island would lose a major source of drinking water in a matter of hours.
“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,” it said.
The party appealed to the government and “the likewise subservient opposition led by Joseph Muscat” to demand from Libya that all safety procedures are in place before drilling starts.
It also called on the UK government, which defended BP with the US Administration, to ensure that the lessons learnt from the Gulf of Mexico disaster are acted upon immediately. AD said that an oil disaster would have long-term effects on the livelihood of Maltese fishermen and also on the tourism industry and the environment.
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David Caruana
Jul 30th 2010, 09:05
Please check if the BP disaster had to happen at home....
http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/
Charles.C.Brown
Jul 29th 2010, 23:02
Despite what happend in the gulf of mexico, BP has always been and still is a company with an exellent safety record. If AD is concerned about oil drilling off the libyan coast why is it they never spoke about the old and rusty drilling platforms manned by the italians in the burri oilfield halfway between Malta and Libya where safety is almost none existant and most of the emloyees they dont even hold a survival certificate, a must for the offshore worker!
David Caruana
Jul 30th 2010, 09:03
Because the drilling technology changed - they are going deeper and thus the name DEEP WATER HORIZON. This is why the spill took 86 days to be stopped!
The rig in the Gulf of Sirte, Libya, will be 200m DEEPER than the one in the Gulf of Mexico.
Fingers crossed that all safety measure are taken by BP staff and the Libyan authorities.
P.S. AD never said that no one should drill - they only wish the government to keep Libya and BP accountable for any disaster that might happen.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 29th 2010, 19:23
Ara veru nuru minn fejn gejjin, taf! Of course, AD is right. But who is going to stand up to Libya if anything happens? The sheer hatred that there is for minorities, AD included, is lamentable in this country. No wonder we are not registering any progress!
Denis Catania
Jul 29th 2010, 17:24
@AD: Watch out for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and unless you ride bicycles, use candles and hand fans someone needs to drill for oil. Don't worry should an oil spill happens where you have no water we have a refugee treaty to fall too. Just save those boats your freinds come in with.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 29th 2010, 20:08
Do you have a conscience? I doubt it.
T Camilleri
Jul 29th 2010, 15:26
AD, I do not mean that I am not worried especially by the thousands of tankers passing through the Med all the time, but how about the great number of tankers always anchored at Hurds Bank and also other areas waiting for orders without paying us anything and dirtying the area with their sewage and spillages? Have you heard about the Proba Koala which carried out dangerous and toxic oil waste exchange on Hurds Bank for Trafigura which has just been fined for dumping the toxic waste in the Ivory Coast and causing the death and illness of many persons? Aren't they a greater risk for ourselves and our waters? I have never heard you utter a single word about them.
Paul Spiteri
Jul 29th 2010, 14:58
First it was the English, now it’s the Arabs. What’s wrong with that? We as Maltese are known to be pro brown nosers. It’s either bending over backwards, or be infiltrated with immigrants. Remember, we are too small and have nothing to offer except a voice which is manipulated by foreign money. Our politicians are out for themselves.
Anthony Formosa
Jul 29th 2010, 14:35
Malta should show some dignity and self respect and stop acting as if it were a colony of Libya, Alternattiva Demokratika said.
I think AD should stop talking rubbish and look into our internal affairs, there is more destruction in our homeland to look after.
D pointed out that about 60 per cent of Malta’s drinking water was obtained by treating sea water and if a major accident were to occur 500 kilometres away, the island would lose a major source of drinking water in a matter of hours.
Did other countries stopped all ships under Maltese registered flag after the ERICA disaster? should we also stop oil tankers coming to Malta?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/correspondent/883110.stm
Louis Sinagra
Jul 29th 2010, 13:51
The time for the circus is christmas time , so AD don't make us laugh . Who are we to tell the Lybians not to drill for oil offshore , when we maltese are exploring our seabed to find oil . AD don't be hybocryts .
g. scerri
Jul 29th 2010, 12:39
I think the billions that BP has already forked out over the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico is almost a guarantee that it will be more careful in the future. That shouldn't be a worry for us. More important for our future is whether BP is effectively siphoning off any oil located in our part of the seabed.
Charles Sammut
Jul 29th 2010, 14:18
I knew a businessman who employed several delivery men. The first question he would ask them in an interview, was, "Have you ever had a traffic accident?"
Those who said "Yes." usually got the job.
Moreover, I think that no other oil company has as much experience in dealing with an offshore drilling accident as BP now has. That's why I bought BP shares when they were rock bottom, it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. My profit is guaranteed, AD is worrying about it, must be good. The corollary is also true.
Charles Sammut
Jul 29th 2010, 11:14
"Malta should show some dignity and self respect and stop acting as if it were a colony of Libya, Alternattiva Demokratika said."
Hear, hear, especially as far as illegal immigration is concerned. But coming from AD, I doubt that.
So according to these Greens, what should Malta do if oil drilling becomes viable in our waters? Leave it untapped for fear of an environmental disaster? And what about the hundreds of oil tankers which ply the Med in our vicinity? Block those as well?
AD is always bubbling with good intentions which have paved its way to you know where.