The Platform for an Oil Free Algarve (PALP) has brought together the informal citizens group Glocal-Faro, the national conservation NGO Quercus, the regional NGO with the same goals Almargem, the bird protection association SPEA and News Loop, to challenge the “deafening silence” surrounding the situation.
No public debate
According to a statement made by PALP: “There was no public debate about the consequences for the region regarding drilling for oil, nor have there been any social or environmental impact reports.”
The collective add that “Nothing is known of the contract between the state and oil exploration companies. The silence and secrecy regarding this subject from national, regional and local government is deafening”.
The Platform has said it will ask the presidents of the 16 Algarve Chambers for “clarification of all decisions already taken in the hydrocarbon exploration in the Algarve” and “on the requirements of the exploration contract between the state and the oil companies.”
Environmental impact
Some of the major concerns from PALP regarding Algarve oil exploration surround the “potential environmental impacts” and the “incompatibility between the Algarve being a tourist region of excellence while also one of oil drilling”.
The associations claim that any drilling for oil in the Algarve should be considered to be “high risk” because of the area being in a “high seismic hazard zone” and warned of the consequences of any possible accidental oil spill on the coast, which would represent a “loss of resources” to “equally important activities in the Algarve, such as fishing, aquaculture and salt production.”
While the environmental ramifications are key to the collective, equally so are the social consequences with the association saying that Algarve citizens had been left to one side without any public debate on the oil issue.
Transparency
PALP are promising to contact every one of the Algarve’s 16 council presidents to attempt to bring some transparency to the process.
One of the areas in the Algarve that is expected to be targeted for oil exploration is located around 8.3 kilometres from the shore and at this distance it is expected that the gas towers and flames they emit will be visible from a number of beaches in the Algarve.
Repsol is one of the companies that has signed a contract with the Portuguese State for exploration and exploitation of natural gas and oil in the Algarve and the president of the Spanish multinational, Antonio Brufau, said last July that the company would start drilling and natural gas exploration in the Algarve “next year”.
Challenging the “deafening silence”
in Algarve · 01 Apr 2015, 14:40 · 3 Comments
It is so sad to hear that the people are only waking up now. It was announced at least 2 years ago together with the list of all privatisation of the treasures of Portugal. NO oil drilling is ever be worth it to ruin the water, wild life and fishing sources for the people. It is quite remarkable and would good to know: who was paid off to do such a disgrace to the country- to have something like this contract signed? There are plenty of solar, wind, water energy sources available, but there is only ONE ALGARVE!!!! Time to wake up people, the fleeting of Portugal is in full force and effect!!!!
By marianna from Other on 02 Apr 2015, 13:10
am I correct in the assumption that drilling in the sea bed off the coast of the Algarve could cause the fault line that caused the earthquake and tidal wave in 1755 to react I read somewhere that a wave like that could possibly affect the first kilometre inland of the Algarve coastline Worse than the tsunami in 2004 Indonesia But "obviously this would not matter if a few people in power where making money" would it ??? In both cases the powers that be. God help us.
By GEOFF from Algarve on 08 Apr 2015, 09:50
I am a portuguese national living abroad for quite a number of years so am not sure about how informed the portuguese are about the enormace risks associated with offshore drilling and the devistation it can cause, it appears to me however that not enough is been done to inform the general public on this issue (we need only look at examples such as the explosion of the BP offshore Oil Rig off the Gulf of Mexico, the Valdez Oil Tanker spill off the Alaska & Canada coastline just to mention a couple) the beauty and tourism of the Algarve will be lost for many years to come to say the least, should there be an accident.
By Aldo Sequeira from Algarve on 10 Apr 2015, 10:39