ANGOLA:
Drilling Ever Deeper, Hoping for the Best

7/2/2010 9:41:13 AM

Luanda - While BP struggles to contain an oil spill that U.S. government estimates indicate is now the largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico, questions are being asked about how well prepared Africa's oil-producing countries are for a similar incident.

Angola, the second largest oil producer in Africa after Nigeria, pumps close to two million barrels of oil per day, with significant current and future operations offshore in deep and ultra-deep waters. Elias Issac, Angola director of human rights and governance watchdog the Open Society Institute, believes there is lack of environment-specific legislation and enforcement procedures that leaves not just small communities but the whole country vulnerable to a major incident in Angolan waters. However Vladimir Russo, former National Director at Angola's Ministry of Environment, the country is prepared to respond to a spill. Russo said that This is little consolation to environmentalists who say that beaches in Cabinda have been left blackened by oil washed up on shore, killing fish and other marine life. BP, the oil company responsible for the largest oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, will The company is about to start the development phase of the ultra-deep water Block 31, off the coast of Angola in depths of between 1,500 and 2,500 metres. (END/RADIO EDITOR/2010)

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