MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Punta Arenas: Breaking News

Headlines:
UV radiation controversy in Chile; ENAP surveys for gas in Tierra del Fuego; Patagonia Chambers of Commerce unite.

UV radiation controversy in Chile.

A Chilean Senate initiative regarding ozone layer radiation consequences and Ultra Violet protection devices has turned into a controversial issue. Basically the bill makes it compulsory for the media to publish and/or broadcast meteorological reports with UV information; goods and products harmful for the ozone layer must have labels clearly indicating so; workers potentially exposed to UV radiation effects must be supplied with the appropriate protection and posters warning on the risks of UV exposure must be visible in sea resorts, beaches and pools. Besides it endorses contracting a paper on UV radiation effects on people, wild life and ecosystems plus making it compulsory in glasses, sun tans and similar products to have a UV protection factor. The bill includes a system of increasing pecuniary penalties for trespassers. However, according to La Prensa Austral from Punta Arenas the bill is "a catalogue of good intentions" but has two main drawbacks: one, that Chilean Congress can't have expenditure initiatives unless they are fully financed; secondly it misses the point which is the fact that "radiation has become a matter of public health". Besides it's not clear which organization will be responsible for the coordination (and financing) of UV radiation research. Currently it's an isolated effort from different universities in different areas of the country. La Prensa Austral also criticizes the fact that media reporting on UV radiation should be compulsory if the bill is finally approved. "The media reports on that which it considers of public interest and has done so extensively during the critical UV radiation periods", argues La Prensa Austral. However it ends underlining that it's very commendable that Chilean Congress should address such an issue, forcing the Executive to undertake an in depth research on UV radiation "to put an end to exaggerated myths or fears, when lacking the appropriate information".

ENAP surveys for gas in Tierra del Fuego

Chile oil company ENAP and Veritas Geophysical a United Status subsidiary of Veritas DGC signed this week a four million contract for the tri dimensional seismic survey of the lake Mercedes in the heart area of Tierra del Fuego. According to Punta Arenas press ENAP is involved in a geological review of the Magallanes basin with the purpose of finding new fields of natural gas and oil, and the first stage of the program involves surveying of lake Mercedes. Work is scheduled to begin next September with a 3D sweep of an area equivalent to 312 square kilometers. Once the data collected has been processed and analyzed ENAP will consider drilling a first exploratory well. If positive and in commercial volumes then the area will be licenced. Punta Arenas press indicates that the US Veritas group has done extensive 3D seismic surveying in Argentine Patagonia. Magallanes region where oil was first found half a century ago was once Chile's main source of domestic oil and natural gas has seen reserves drop drastically.

Patagonia Chambers of Commerce unite.

Patagonian Chilean and Argentine Chambers of Commerce have created a joint organization named "Zona Patagonica sur-sur" with the purpose of promoting integration and monitoring interests of the private sector on both sides of the border. The founding organizations are the Chambers of Commerce from Punta Arenas in Chile and Rio Grande, Rio Gallegos and Ushuaia in Argentina. A first meeting was held in Rio Gallegos this week with Marcos Ivelich and John Mattson representing Punta Arenas Chamber of Commerce. "This was the first official contact of the organization addressing common interests although we've had a number of preparatory meetings", said Mr. Ivelich. The agenda of the first meeting included, increasing regional trade and the necessary conditions to promote it; monitoring the implementation of official announcements such as facilitating the free movement of people, goods and services through the frontier passes in Patagonia. "One of our first decisions was the contracting of a joint market survey of Patagonia, an area which we estimate has a population of 300,000", revealed Mr. Ivelich who said the next meeting has been scheduled sometime in the next three months time in Rio Grande.