Soco to end drilling in Africa park
shropshirestar.com - 14 minutes ago
Virunga National Park is home to critically endangered mountain gorillas.
Soco International is ending its operations in Virunga National Park,
in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and has also committed to
staying out of other World Heritage sites.
The move, which comes after a sustained campaign by environmentalists
to stop oil exploration in the World Heritage site, was hailed as a
"victory for our planet" by wildlife charity WWF.
The company said it committed not to undertake or commission any
exploratory or other drilling within the park unless World Heritage
body Unesco and the DRC government agreed that such activities were
not incompatible with its World Heritage status.
It will end operations after completing the seismic survey on Lake
Edward, which is due to conclude shortly, it said.
The national park is made up of lakes, savannah, forests, volcanoes
and is home to rare wildlife including the critically endangered
mountain gorilla, b ut 85% of the park has been allocated to oil
concessions.
Unesco has called for the oil exploration permits to be cancelled and
for energy companies not to drill in World Heritage sites.
David Nussbaum, chief executive of WWF-UK, said: "Today is a victory
for our planet. Congolese people around Virunga were joined by
scientists and lawyers, activists and artists, governments, investors
and WWF supporters worldwide to remove the immediate threat of oil
exploration.
"Now is the time for the government of the DRC to reaffirm its
conviction that Virunga has outstanding universal value for all
humanity - by cancelling all oil concessions which overlap the park,
as requested by Unesco."
WWF had filed a complaint against Soco under the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) guidelines for
multinational enterprises and today's commitment follows mediation
between the two parties under the process.
Ed Story, chief executive of Soco, said: "Today's public commitment
adds further definition and transparency to the company's approach
regarding Virunga National Park and other World Heritage sites.
"Hopefully we can all get back to activities focused on both people
and the environment where it does the most good for a place that we
think can have a better future."
Around half the area covered by Soco's licence to explore for oil
falls outside the park.
The licence did not include the mountainous sector of the park ,which
is home to the mountain gorillas, and the company had already stated
it would never seek to have operations in the gorilla habitat, the
Virunga volcanoes or rainforest.
But WWF warned that energy development could still damage wildlife,
and lead to oil spills, pipeline leaks and gas flaring which could
contaminate air, water and soil in the local environment.
In a report published last year, the charity said seismic surveys and
exploration led to clearance of natural vegetation and development of
illegal settlements, fragmenting habitat for species such as elephants
and providing access to poachers and rebels active in the area.
Development of oil resources in the troubled region could also fuel
further conflict, as minerals form the main source of export revenue
and foreign exchange, and could be targeted by rebels for finance and
lead to renewed instability.
Instead, WWF urged sustainable development of the park, which it said
could generate 45,000 jobs through investments in the fishing
industry, hydropower schemes and eco-tourism, which in neighbouring
Rwanda is booming.
Raymond Lumbuenamo, country director WWF-DRC said: "If free from the
threat of oil, Virunga can be a continuing source of hope for the
people of DRC.
"As in other African countries, with proper investment this park can
become a leading economic driver for its communities.
"This is the moment for the international community to support DRC to
help us bring lasting change that will ensure Africa's first national
park remains the mother park of Africa."
WWF said continued efforts with business, the investment community and
governments around the world were needed to remove the pressures that
put Virunga and other World Heritage sites in danger.
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