MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Imminent start of oil drilling in Falklands triggers strong Argentine protest

UK Ambassador Shan Morgan

Argentina summoned the British ambassador in Buenos Aires to deliver a formal protest regarding the imminent beginning of a hydrocarbons exploratory drilling season off-shore the Falkland Islands.

A release from the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry said that Tuesday afternoon the highest ranking officer from the UK embassy will be handed a “most vigorous protest” since the areas to the north of the Falklands, where the drilling will soon begin, are part of the Argentine continental platform and under “illegitimate British occupation”.

The protest will be delivered to the British Chargé d’affairs, -- since ambassador Shan Morgan is overseas—by the ministry’s cabinet chief Ambassador Alberto Dalotto.

During the summons Argentina will reiterate its “sovereignty rights over the Falklands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and adjoining maritime spaces, which are an integral part of its national territory”.

An exploratory drilling rig, “Ocean Guardian” is currently on its way to the Falklands where it expects to begin operations some time towards the end of the month.

The rig has been contracted by Desire Petroleum Plc, but the three other companies licensed by the Falkland Islands government to explore for hydrocarbons off-shore,

Rockhopper Exploration Plc, Borders & Southern Petroleum Plc and Falkland Oil & Gas Ltd in association with BHP Billiton will be leasing the rig for their own exploration operations.

In his end of the year message to the Islanders Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there was no doubt about British sovereignty over the Falklands and promised full support to develop the Islands oil industry.