British Columbia still seeks offshore oil drilling
Date: 07-Dec-01
Country: CANADA
Author: Allan Dowd
Premier Gordon Campbell told a conference of energy industry executives the Canadian province is eager to overcome the potential legal and political problems if a scientific report due Jan. 15, says the development can be done without excessive ecological risk.
"If we can get through the first hurdle and say this is achievable in an environmentally sustainable way, I think you will see a lot of activity and energy around the table to make sure things move forward quickly," Campbell said.
The Geological Survey of Canada estimates that the Queen Charlotte Basin off the southern tip of the Alaska pan handle has reserves of 9.8 billion barrels of oil and 25.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas - making it one of Canada's largest potential energy reserves.
Canada allows drilling off its Atlantic Coast but has had a moratorium on exploration off the Pacific Coast since 1972. It considered lifting it in 1989, but public outcry following the wreck of the oil tanker Exxon Valdez in Alaska brought a quick end to the idea.
The political momentum to lift the moratorium has increased in recent years as the coastal region struggles with the decline of its traditional industries of forestry and fishing.
"I think we have to not lock ourselves in the past and recognize (there are) new technologies and new approaches(to offshore drilling)," Campbell said.
He acknowledged later there was no guarantee the report would recommend pushing ahead.
A draft technological study released in October cited recent advances in drilling technology, and said there were no fatal flaws barring exploration around the islands.
In addition to convincing Ottawa to lift the moratorium, British Columbia will have to negotiate with Indian tribes in the area who claim ownership of all the underwater resources and have vowed to oppose drilling.
"If we able to move forward we're going to work with First Nations and the federal government, and everyone will have to benefit if we move forward," Campbell told reporters.
A Canadian unit of ChevronTexaco Corp and Petro-Canada hold leases in area, but have said they won't make any decisions on exploration until the question of the moratorium is resolved.
