‘Encouraging’ results in oil exploration
“Encouraging results” are emerging from ongoing oil exploration around Malta, according to Resources Minister George Pullicino.
Active petroleum systems had been identified at the most recent oil wells being explored, he said.
However, government sources told The Times this did not mean oil had been struck in any economically viable quantities. All it meant was that experts had found the geological layers required for there to be oil.
“Malta has been exploring since the 1950s. To date only 10 offshore exploration wells have been drilled in an area of 70,000 square kilometres. Although some are dry, some of the more recent ones indicate the presence of active petroleum systems in our anchorage,” a source said. Currently, two companies are carrying out research to see whether there is oil on Malta’s continental shelf.
Meanwhile, a “road show” will begin next year, starting from London, in which the authorities will try to convince oil companies to start looking into the “substantial” areas of Malta’s seabed which are still unexplored.
“Malta offers attractive fiscal and contractual terms, a stable political climate, forms part of the EU and has favourable geological conditions, all of which provide an ideal setting for exploration,” said Mr Pullicino.
Mr Pullicino was speaking at a conference about oil exploration and oil-spill response planning organised by the Mediterranean Oil Industry Group.
He said the government was well aware of the risks involved in the industry and the importance of having mitigating measures in place for oil pollution and potential spills.
He said around 25 per cent of the world’s tanker traffic occurred in the Mediterranean Sea and 75 per cent of such tankers passed through the Malta-Sicily channel.
The responsible authority for oil preparedness, such as in the case of an oil spill, would be Transport Malta which manages the response unit made up of the Civil Protection Department, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Armed Forces of Malta.
The European Maritime Safety Agency has 16 response vessels around European ports, five of them based in the Mediterranean and three of which are Malteseowned and operated.
Mr Pullicino made reference to the ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico this year caused by BP oil drilling. Although companies were welcome to enter into flexible agreements with the government for oil exploration in Malta, he said, the national regulator would review the risk assessments prepared by oil companies prior to any exploration activity to mitigate the environmental risks.
Meanwhile, marine biologist Alan Deidun outlined the risks involved and showed how an oil spill would affect Malta’s marine flora, fauna, beaches, rocks, birds and, indirectly, humans.
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Victor Vella
Nov 25th 2010, 08:54
This issue will be in vogue about two years from now when the general election gets nearer and the Gonzi Regime will make an issue like: Xoghol, Gustizzja u liberta, Go dahrek bla biza, per idejn sodi, and now Malta dalwaqt ikollha PN Oil- taht il-karrozzi.
S Vella
Dec 1st 2010, 08:36
Well said...........
Not forgetting that the PN already won an election when they said Malta found oil at Gozo, il-Madonna tad dmugh, when everyone was expecting the gas flame which after the election went up in smoke
Alex Ellul
Nov 24th 2010, 15:32
Are we really interested in getting that oil up into the atmosphere? READ CAREFULLY, especially end paragraph:
>>>http://www.pancon.com.au/projects/malta/chebba-basin/
Malta - Southern Offshore
Area 5, Area 4 Block 3 (80%)
Joint Venture partners: Sun Resources (20%).
The total area of the Malta project is approximately 14,800 sq. km. The JV has identified a number of large prospective features which are geologically similar to those hosting producing oil and gas fields in neighbouring offshore Tunisia and Libya.
The area is currently subject to boundary discussions between Malta, Libya and Tunisia, however the main prospects are in an area only ever claimed by Malta. Exploration activities have been suspended due to the boundary matters.
Pancontinental has been in communication with the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs of Malta to allow exploration of the area to recommence when the border issues have been resolved.
In late May 2009, without any prior warning, Pancontinental received a letter from the OED claiming that the ESA expired in August 2008. Pancontinental has written to the Department disputing the expiry of the ESA and is seeking legal advice from a firm of Maltese lawyers.
andrew vella
Nov 23rd 2010, 22:56
One hopes that this is not just one of the many planned pre election spin offs. AS the Aussies say shovel it up and do some more mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David Caruana
Nov 23rd 2010, 20:57
Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum!
I smell the tidings of election day ;-p
Frank Anderson
Nov 23rd 2010, 18:07
'Active petroleum systems had been identified at the most recent oil wells being explored'
'Although some are dry, some of the more recent ones indicate the presence of active petroleum systems in our anchorage'
These two statements do not make sense. The last oil well drilled in Malta was the Kercem well in Gozo over a decade ago. Have these active pertoleum systems been identified now, a decade after the well was drilled? This sounds like nonesense or a lame propaganda scoop (oil companies will not fall for this), unless some other well was drilled which is not in public knowledge
l fenech
Nov 23rd 2010, 16:19
Issa sgur risqa l-elezzjoni ghax qed nerghu inzeffnu it-thaffir taz-zejt.
DVella
Nov 23rd 2010, 15:25
Is this even news?? What exactly, has changed from the similar announcements made in previous years . . . what exactly about this statement is supposed to get the Maltese people to even take any notice . . . ? Better an announcement declaring when Government (AND MRRA) is going to pull its finger out and start setting up its first wind-farm . . . and another declaring what (real ones please) measures are actually being implemented to protect and restore Malta's decimated water table . . . .
Richard Sammut
Nov 23rd 2010, 13:30
This type of news always starts floating around when an election is nearing!!!
I can't believe how the politicians still think they can take the man in the street for a ride!
Been seeing this kind of news far too long.. I remember a picture of a gas flame filling up the front page of 'In-Nazzjon'!!! ... and then it was said that it was not viable! ..DREAM ON!
anthony borg
Nov 23rd 2010, 13:25
@J. Ferrigi possibbli mohhok sa hemm iwassal? Ghax jithawlu is-sigar ma tistax tfittex ghaz-zejt? Skont int missu kull min fittex ghaz-zejt ma zerax sigar. X'faqar.
E. Azzopardi
Nov 23rd 2010, 13:18
In the meantime, when are we going to have the "promised" (again, this blessed word) liberalization of energy so that we can have a choice of petrol and diesel amongst other things. This should have started on 01 January 2007, if I am not mistaken, that is three years ago. What is the EU doing about this?
A.Sacco
Nov 23rd 2010, 12:55
Here we go again, another chapter in the never-ending story....or fable. In any case, hope is the last to die.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Nov 23rd 2010, 12:45
Nothing quite like the promise of oil and riches to soothe away those mid term blues....
Charles Zammit
Nov 23rd 2010, 12:26
HHAHAHAHA
Are we approaching election time?
C Muscat
Nov 23rd 2010, 12:21
Looking for what we already have. I hope we are not paying for this election propoganda.
Is election so near?
Roderick Micallef
Nov 23rd 2010, 11:46
Ooohhh yes, the results for oil exploration are very encouraging in deed infact one can already find a substantial amount of oil thrown on the newly refurbished Marsaxlokk Promenade, very encouraging I must say!
J. Borg
Nov 23rd 2010, 11:36
Just a thought, but the election isn't that much close......as normally when election is near we start hearing these things!!!!!
ASpiteri
Nov 23rd 2010, 11:22
Before exploring our chances in finding oil we must first put in place a foreign policy that sees oil as the key of the whole policy! We are a defenseless nation, so before we find our oil, we must find foreign countries ready to step in case of a repetition of the 1981 incident at the medina lines. Before that, all talk about oil is only gibberish!
apgrech
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:53
The news will get more and more positive when we get close to the election.
I Vella
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:52
This can only be interpreted in one way... The election is coming in early 2011 !!!
Gianni Xuereb
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:27
This reminds me of Alfred Sant and Joe Mizzi just before they lost the 1998 election!
I took it with a big pinch of salt back then. Why should I take it salt free now that it's coming from Pullicino's mouth ?
Gianni Xuereb
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:24
exactly
Charles Micallef
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:11
May I respectfully suggest to the Minister to stop making such statements until they have something concrete to shout about..,,,the public had enough of" ‘Encouraging’ results in oil exploration" statements over the years.......................Please!
m.farrugia
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:10
hafna minn dawk li kitbu dwar din l-ahbar ghadhom jghixu fl-gherien, ma juzawx eletriku, ilma jiehdu minn tax-xita, hwejjeg ma jilbsu imma juzaw glud tl-animali, karozzi ma jafux x'inhuma imma juzaw saqajhom bhal San Frangisk, ikel jieklu haxix selvagg sabiex ma jiqirdux animali ect. insomma ghandhom jghixu bhan-neollitici sabiex l-ambjent jibqa mhux mittifes. Meta se nigbru hbieb u nitghallmu naraw il-prijoritajiet tal-pajjiz u mhux interessi oħra.
Timothy Cachia
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:08
We have been 'exploring' for quite some time... but honestly... who's paying for all this 'exploring'?
Why don't we invest this money on renewable/green energy??
Peter Busuttil
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:05
Something tells me that election time is very very near!
S Zammit
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:57
yes, yes...whatever...
C.Sammut
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:53
We always get this news right before every election....!!
Peter Shaw
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:40
Oh no!! I have to throw away my electric car now !!!
I M Dingli
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:33
I have been hearing this type of 'news' for at least the past two decades. Can the Government be taken seriously about this anymore?
Andre' Bonello
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:32
Proset!!!
Robert Grech
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:29
@R Ferrigi
Ladarba qieghed titkellem hekk nassumi li ilek tuza electric car mhux hazin issa - jew ahjar qatt ma rkibt fuq karozza minhabba d-dannu ambjenatli li jikkawzaw!! Min hu bla htija jwaddab l-ewwel gebla!!
patrick zammit
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:13
If memory serves me right, just before the 1998 elections, EFA had told Sant to stop taking people for a ride and to tell them that there is no oil to be found.
Will he repeat this to Pullicino?
CV Busuttil
Nov 23rd 2010, 11:03
Well, he had also vowed to solve Karen Grech's and Raymond Caruana's murders when in office. Did he?!
Chris Finch
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:07
Once again profit for a few is more important than the health and environment of the many.
"The responsible authority for oil preparedness, such as in the case of an oil spill, would be Transport Malta" - Not exactly reassuring given their recent form on all the other issues they are responsible for.
m vella
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:02
Finding oil is the only solution for this rock.
B Sant
Nov 23rd 2010, 11:59
the other solution is a govt with ability to manage the country
C.Cardona
Nov 23rd 2010, 20:59
DARN RIGHT - well said B.Sant.
Ian Micallef
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:00
Incredible, The rest of the world is doing thier best investing money in reasearch and experiementing with greener fuels and despite Malta having the potential to exploit wind power, we are still looking for oil? What ever for ... ????
J Oatmon
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:25
"Whatever for" - well that's easy, it's because the whole world uses road transport and there is no commercially viable user friendly alternative to petrol and diesel for vehicles, for at least another two decades.
Ray Borg
Nov 23rd 2010, 10:28
Wind power my left foot,green energy is still in stone age times just look at electric cars they look and are stupid,maybe in a hundred years time Ian ,you will be proven right but for now OIL PLEASE.
j gatt
Nov 23rd 2010, 12:56
Maybe for the New Delimara Power Station???
A Abela
Nov 23rd 2010, 08:42
Joe Mizzi was right.
J Brincat
Nov 23rd 2010, 08:36
Are elections, by any chance, round the corner?
Kevin Zammit
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:03
exactly! :)
B Sant
Nov 23rd 2010, 11:58
dont be so pessimistic -- its only divine assitance to the party in government that we start getting a smell of oil before elections ....... swiftly fading away as soon as election is over
C Muscat
Nov 23rd 2010, 12:14
That is it. First the fire than the smoke.
J.Bonnici
Nov 23rd 2010, 13:44
Right. I was born in 1951 and have been hearing this prior to every general election since then !!!!!!!
v mercieca
Nov 23rd 2010, 20:57
Like Mr Bonnici, I have heard this kind of statement several times before a general election.
-
Mr. Pullicino, go sell it to the marines
r ferriggi
Nov 23rd 2010, 08:31
this is unbeleivable.
this,,,,,,,,,,, is a statement by the minister who a few days ago was planting trees in mellieha and who was speaking about the ''environment''.
can we take him seriously?? i dont think so,,,, if you have a head to think.
political opportunism galore.
P. Montebello
Nov 23rd 2010, 08:46
What do you mean? Do you mean that in the name of environment, we shall stop drilling for oil? Shall we also stop all activities since all activities are harmful to environment in one way or another? Even human beings are harmful to environment by their very natural, daily actions especially if they have a sore tummy!!
What should be done, and I believe is being done, is to take care as best as one can and be prepared for any eventual mishaps.