Libya’s new ambassador to Malta has said his country is taking “every precaution” to make sure the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico will not be repeated in the Mediterranean when British company BP starts drilling off the Libyan coast.
“We are just as concerned as Malta and everyone else, especially in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico incident, but Libya is taking every precaution not to have such an incident repeated,” the newly- appointed ambassador Saadun Ismail Suayeh told The Times yesterday soon after presenting his credentials to President George Abela at the Palace in Valletta.
This is the first such declaration by a high ranking Libyan official in Malta on the concerns over the deep-sea oil drilling license granted to BP by Libya. The British oil giant is expected to start operations in the Gulf of Sirte, just 515 kilometres away from Malta, anytime soon.
Dr Suayeh said BP had given Libya “very strong guarantees” that they will adopt the highest and strictest industrial practices.
“Libya is exercising a sovereign right by exploring for oil in its own territorial waters but it is doing this very responsibly. We are aware the consequences will be very serious if, God forbid, any incident occurs,” Dr Suayeh said.
Concerns about BP’s Libya operation were raised after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig operated by the British company exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April killing 11 people.
Millions of barrels of oil spilled from the damaged well for three whole months in what was described as the worst oil spill disaster in the US. The oil well was finally capped in July.
Dr Suayeh said he was aware of the concerns raised in Malta about BP’s operations off the Libyan coast but insisted these were also Libya’s concerns.
Whenever asked whether it sought guarantees from Libya on the safety standards to be adopted by BP, the government has played down the concerns, insisting safety procedures were the Libyan government’s responsibility.
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat raised the matter with Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, when paying him a courtesy visit last week.
Dr Muscat said the Libyan authorities gave him the necessary clarifications, assuring him that the strictest safety precautions in the industry would be taken.
Describing the relations between both countries as “excellent and strong”, Dr Suayeh said no date had been fixed yet for President Gaddafi to visit Malta.
However, the visit was still on the cards, he added, and hoped it would take place “as soon as possible”.