Angola to Allow Limited Exploration in Protected Zones

(Bloomberg) -- Angolan lawmakers revoked a ban on exploration for crude and natural gas in protected natural reserves, including the Kassanje Basin and the wildlife-rich Okavango River Basin.
Prospecting will be allowed in 5% of protected zones and “possibly” only 3% will be drilled, Mineral Resources Minister Diamantino Azevedo said.
“What we’re doing is not unheard of,” he said, citing the U.S., Norway and Gabon as examples of countries exploring for oil in protected zones. Oil revenues will benefit local communities and the parks themselves, he said.
The move may breach international agreements because Angola receives donor funding to protect the sites, according to Luanda-based environmental activist Eufrazina Paiva. Angola will respect its commitments to protect habitats, State Secretary for Social Communication Nuno Caldas Albino said.
The change is still to be signed into law by President Joao Lourenco, who had proposed the amendment.
The National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels on Feb. 10 opened a “limited” public tender for a domestic company to carry out studies on the environmental impact, restoration and restocking of the eastern and western parts of the Etosha and Okavango Basin, according to an announcement on its website.
© 2021 Bloomberg L.P.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- Scoop Stack Oil Output Slashed
- ERCOT Directors Resign
- DOE Awarding up to $46MM for Geothermal Projects
- Exxon in $1B+ North Sea Deal
- Shell to License Tech for New Refinery
- China Oil Reserves Close to Capacity
- Offshore Bill Would Give States More Say in Oil and Gas Leasing
- ADNOC Shipping Arm Buys 6 Very Large Crude Carriers
- Karish North Contract Goes to TechnipFMC
- Oil Up with Global Market Tightening
- Texas Governor Addresses Skyrocketing Energy Bills
- Aker Wins Contract for Equinor-BP US Wind Project
- Petrobras Market Value Plummets After Bolsonaro Fires CEO
- CNOOC Makes Large Oil and Gas Find
- Lamprell Wins Large Aramco Deal
- Total Concerned with Myanmar Situation
- BOEM Issues First Wave Energy Lease Off West Coast
- Scoop Stack Oil Output Slashed
- ERCOT Directors Resign
- DOE Awarding up to $46MM for Geothermal Projects
- 7 Oil Firms Dubbed Best Place to Work in LGBTQ List
- Biden Admin Pulls Drilling Permits
- DJ Says Exxon and Chevron Discussed Merger
- Qatar Petroleum Greenlights $29B LNG Project
- Total Bolsters Renewable Portfolio with Texas Buys
- How Many US GOM Jobs Could Go Under Biden?
- Republican Senators Request Biden Meeting
- How Many US Oil Jobs Were Lost in 2020?
- Nigeria Judge Issues Arrest Warrant for Local Exxon Exec
- Ng Spurns Keystone XL Nafta Challenge