Libya has reassured Joseph Muscat over the safety of BP’s planned oil drilling operation off the Libyan coast after the Labour leader expressed concerns during a courtesy visit to the country.
“We showed our concern about the drilling in the Gulf of Sirte and said if an incident like the Gulf of Mexico were to occur, it would have a big negative impact, both economic and environmental, on our country,” Dr Muscat said on his return yesterday.
He said the Libyan authorities had given him the clarifications necessary, agreeing that a Gulf of Mexico-type oil spill would be catastrophic and assuring him that the strictest safety precautions in the industry would be taken.
The drilling off Libya will take place at depths of 1,700 metres, slightly more than those of the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon oil rig off Lousiana, where an explosion in April killed 11 workers and caused the biggest environmental disaster in US history.
In the light of the island’s proximity to Libya, fears have been raised in Malta over BP’s plans.
Italy too has expressed deep concerns, with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini recently warning of disquiet among Mediterranean countries. “If an incident like the one in the Gulf of Mexico were to happen in the Mediterranean, it would be a catastrophe beyond repair, because the Mediterranean is like a lake (in comparison),” Mr Frattini was reported as saying.
During his visit, Dr Muscat held his first face-to-face meeting with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He had the “most interesting” discussions, he told the press soon after landing on a private aircraft provided by Libyan authorities yesterday afternoon.
During his talks with Libyan officials, which focused on energy, economy and the situation in Africa, Dr Muscat also asked for a clarification on how immigrants rescued on a boat last month were distributed.
In the incident, 27 Somali immigrants – half the group rescued from a sinking dinghy – were sent back to Libya while the other half boarded an Armed Forces of Malta boat and were brought to the island.
Migrants who came to Malta claimed the repatriation had been forced but the Maltese government and the AFM insisted that those sent back to Libya had gone there voluntarily.
The Libyan government, Dr Muscat said, confirmed the Maltese government’s version of events.
“They gave us their version of events which tallied with that of the Maltese authorities,” Dr Muscat said.
In a press statement issued later, the Labour Party said Col Gaddafi expressed hope that the good relations between Malta and Libya would continue to be strengthened.
Dr Muscat conveyed warm greetings from former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, while Col Gaddafi reciprocated by thanking Mr Mintoff for his honesty throughout the years.
The Labour delegation included foreign affairs spokesman George Vella, social policy spokesman Michael Farrugia, international secretary Alex Sceberras Trigona and chairman of the coordination group Karmenu Vella.