BOUNES AIRES: Argentinian minister says judge appointed to pursue British oil companies drilling in the Falklands. Oil exploration taking place off the Falkland islands
Argentina has threatened to sue three British oil and gas companies and extradite executives in a bid to prevent them exploring in the Falkland Islands.
Daniel Filmus, Argentina’s so-called minister for the Malvinas, announced at a press conference in London that Buenos Aires would pursue Falkland Oil and Gas, Rockhopper and Premier Oil in domestic and international courts in order to stop drilling in the British territory.
In response, Philip Hammond, UK Foreign Secretary, said: “It is an outrageous piece of bullying and threatening against the Falkland Islanders’ perfect right to develop their own economic resources, and Argentina needs to stop this kind of behaviour and start acting like a responsible member of the international community.”
The three British oil companies are exploring for oil in the north Falklands Basin and recently made a significant find at the Zebedee exploration well. It is thought that around 1bn barrels of recoverable oil may exist around the Falklands, which Britain fought to defend in 1982 following the Argentinian invasion.
The Falkland Islands Government, which is responsible for authorising exploration licences and taxing revenue on any oil found around the area, said: “The Falkland Islands Government fails to see how drilling a provocation is in any way. We have the right to develop our economy, including the hydrocarbons industry, and we are exercising that right. Exploration drilling has been happening in Falkland Islands waters for many years.”
Despite the comments from Mr Filmus, who also threatened to extradite any executives implicated in the potential suit, it would be difficult for Argentina to halt drilling in territory that comes under British protection.
Although Mr Filmus said that a judge had been appointed in Argentina to pursue the case, a spokesman for one of the companies mentioned said that no legal papers had been received.
