Malta has no geological survey - geologist
Malta is the only EU country without a geological survey, meaning oil exploration is often done without much data at hand, a top geologist said today.
Peter Gatt explained how the lack of a national institution promoting geological research was holding back local oil exploration ventures.
“Companies see Malta as a high-risk area, which is one reason we haven’t had that much drilling over the years. Malta has a large geological platform and very large continental shelf. We need to take geological research more seriously,” he said.
Dr Gatt was presenting the findings of his study into the geological composition of the Maltese platform, which Malta Council of Science and Technology chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said was “a breakthrough for Maltese science.” MCST supported Dr Gatt’s research.
The findings show clear effects of climate change on Maltese rock, with wetter weather in North Africa leading to a nutrient-enriched Mediterranean sea, with subsequent effects on local rock composition.
Dr Gatt’s seismic studies of the rock composition of parts of Malta’s ocean floor begin to fill some of the gaps in knowledge of Maltese geology.
Aside from the possibility of the data being used to create better-quality aggregate for construction, more such data was needed to increase the probability of oil discovery, Dr Gatt said.
Dr Pullicino Orlando agreed, saying that it appeared oil exploration strategies to date “might have been going about things the wrong way”.
“MCST feels it is very important for us to have some form of geological unit to research local geology and make Malta more attractive to oil companies.”
Dr Pullicino Orlando also reiterated MCST’s push for research into renewable energy, saying the council was currently backing research into the use of offshore solar panels.
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Joseph Mifsud
Sep 16th 2012, 16:34
It seems I have confused a lot of readers, my argument was based on a mathematical problem called 'Reductio ad Absurdum' which is very difficult to understand. Carl Sagan tries to explain it in an appendix in his book Cosmos. When it comes to very small numbers Matematical laws work differently, like the square root of 2 which is not 1 but 1.41.
Can someone explain to me why the PN doesnt apply certain EU laws especially laws on competition ? Because the PN is afraid that applying them the old business establishment will cease to exist. This is the problem the PN has with Dr Franco Debono EU Comm. John Dalli and others.
If you understood my argument you would have understood that I am in favour of Malta being an oil rich country, and I am totally against social differences.
Joseph Cardona
Sep 15th 2012, 09:33
Well, the projection is encouraging Malta's geological strata are well known to occupy more time and thinking. Going down to the ocean floor is another well worth adventure. Modern oil exploration technology shouldn't deter the success or failure of striking oil. Personally, I don't harbour by any stretch of the imagination that the Maltese islands possess an oil bed.
Of course, exploration is always a means of pumping some money into Malta's empty coffers.
Good luck, but let's keep our fingers tightly crossed.
David Magro
Sep 15th 2012, 04:31
Jigifieri f`25 sena taht il PN ma sar xejn? Tajba din
J. Borg
Sep 15th 2012, 01:16
We do not need any geological survey, It is best if we save the funds required for such consultancy for more added value to our society. It may be good to have one but it is NOT a priority at this stage. There are better uses for our tax money at this stage.
Paul Giordimaina
Sep 15th 2012, 10:17
Somethimes I wonder how many bright people there is expecialy you Mr Borg.Now everybody mention our taxes under Mintoff no one dare to mention anything.
Joe Borg
Sep 15th 2012, 10:57
What short term vision ... if this was done it could potentially bring in investment on a large scale where 'our society' would benefit.
K. Vella II
Sep 15th 2012, 00:39
That there is oil I have no doubt. Perhaps one day the truth will come out on the real reason why we cannot seem to start drilling seriously!
Fredo Zahra
Sep 14th 2012, 21:32
@Joseph Mifsud.
It's good if everybody in Malta becomes filthy Rich---- This way we can have every thing and then we hire people from third world countries to do all the work for us--like they do in Dubai.Qatar and all the other filthy rich nations who have lot's of OIL
Barney Camilleri
Sep 15th 2012, 08:24
@ Frendo Zahra
If, and a big If we the people find oil, I assure you we will not be rich. First the oil men get most of the value that they extract, then we still have 6 billion euro to pay back, not to mention those who have been doing well when things where not so good, now imagine what they do if we find black gold.
No Sir, we the people might end up with another 2 Euro cost of living increase.
Let me assure you that Nigeria found oil and is exporting it as fast as they can get it out, yet their people are still escaping on boats to Europe some came here.
No Sir, oil do not equal well being to all.
Mr Aquilina Joseph
Sep 14th 2012, 21:20
TO my undestanding Mr. gatt s report is on a national level.There has been geological studies by individual oil companies ...read carefully on mediterranean oil and gas on the internet and see how it is sectioned..so now here comes the crunch..why has this come out now ..to cause controversy?...why has there been no response from the parties concerned in this matter.surely the ex B.P. boss has no time to waste...we deserve to have a better standard of living if we stike oil..MALTA ...belongs to the maltese and not to P.L. or P.N.
Paul Giordimaina
Sep 15th 2012, 10:20
Barney jekk ma taghmilx dejn qatt ma jkollok xejn.
Alfred J. McEwen
Sep 14th 2012, 20:07
Alfred J. McEwen
It goes to show that all this talk about drilling for oil is all hype. One would think that a geological survey would have occurred first and foremost, long before there was any talk about oil exploration and drilling, so what is the government playing at.. if not trying to pull the wool over our eyes? If it`s an election ploy then it`s a damned poor one and the people of this country are really quite fed up at being had. If anything in this comment has any element of truth, then I can say that Dr. Gatt has really let the cat out of the bag on this issue.
Elaine Debono
Sep 14th 2012, 20:05
Perhaps it might not be a good idea to generalise .... This article makes it sound as though there is no information at all.
Joseph Mifsud
Sep 14th 2012, 20:01
It doesn't make sense to drill for oil just before the general elections. Only the Sant administration was serious on oil exploration because he drilled for oil at the beginning of the legislature.
Do you want to know the reason why Malta haven't struck oil jet ?
We are a very small population and our marine area so big that if Malta struck oil we will be extremely rich.
The problem... If Malta is rich every body will be rich and if every body is rich, then the rich will not be rich any more !
Imagine every Maltese living in a villa, having a swimming pool, a yacht send his children to a private school and is hospitalised in a private hospital and retires in a private elderly home and dies there of course. Too much money means less social differences.
Mind you. In eternity every body will have everything, God's love because it is infinite. So those who believe that they are of a higher class then others will not be satisfied in eternity, while those who had nothing in this world will be satisfied.
Steve M. Engerer
Sep 14th 2012, 20:20
:-)
ha ha!!
tajba din
walter camilleri
Sep 14th 2012, 20:52
what's wrong with not having any social differences? Are you saying you want the poor to remain poor so that you can indulge in class hatred?
Walter Camilleri
Schembri Ray
Sep 14th 2012, 21:25
Keep on dreaming Guz
Charles Grixti
Sep 15th 2012, 08:49
This is pure fantasy - if everone in Malta was rich, the island could not support it. Truth is, when oil is found, it is the giant oil companies that come in to exploit it and to think that all the revenue will come to Malta is to be living in lala land. Experience in other countries has shown that even when we do get a small portion, out of this we will have to pay for the pollution costs and other externalities and the remainder will be in the hands of government, which I do not think will be dishing it out proportionately to the population any time soon.
A Mangion
Sep 15th 2012, 10:51
Please tell me you're joking. Did you read what you wrote? Is that really what you think will happen if we struck oil? Then again, I'm not surprised by such a poor and uneducated mentality after having read the last paragraph you wrote.
Mr Aquilina Joseph
Sep 14th 2012, 19:54
so why is that the ex B.P. boss has just farmed in an agreement with MEDITERRANEAN OIL AND GAS...Can someone please give us some information..i suspect that what goes on here is kept hush hush for the sake of our security..personally i think its a feeble excuse.surely the ex B.P. boss cant be so enthusiastic if it was not properly surveyed..I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS FOR SOME TIME NOW...SO PLEASE..GIVE US SOME ANSWERS..SOONER RATHER THAN LATER
W Cassar
Sep 14th 2012, 19:13
Am I hearing right?
You are telling me that all along there was no real push to find oil? As thats what it looks like!
Pippo De Marco
Sep 14th 2012, 18:45
So for years the Arabs have had us over a barrel, quite literally, and forced us to pay through the nose for our energy, simply because we didn't have anyone with the knowldege to help us break free ? And all the while we have been sitting on the resources to be a significant player in the world's biggest game ?
You couldn't make it up, could you ?
vella m
Sep 14th 2012, 18:21
"Malta is the only EU country without a geological survey" LOL and we expect to find oil ,haahahaa,come on you politicians from both sides wake up from your sleep and Enough of all this macho posturing,finding oil is the only solution for this rock.
j brincat
Sep 14th 2012, 17:56
Aren't we being given to understand that we are on the eve of finding the black gold!
(jb)
Paul Giordimaina
Sep 15th 2012, 10:23
What are you affraid of j brincat you are sure of winning????
Stephen Grech
Sep 14th 2012, 17:01
So how come all these speculations of "soon" probable oil findings?
Michael Camileri
Sep 14th 2012, 16:51
haha the Maltese way.
Drill it and see....
James Vella
Sep 14th 2012, 18:17
Ohlom sabieh, mela dawn hsibtom boloh
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