MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands will continue to develop its legitimate oil industry as it moves from exploration to production

Falklands' people have “the unequivocal right to develop our natural resources as we see fit, including the development of a hydrocarbons industry” (Pic EPA)

The Falkland Islands government has no doubts about its right to licence legitimate offshore oil and gas exploration activities in accordance with Falklands' legislation and will continue to support the hydrocarbons industry as it moves from successful exploration towards oil production.

 The statement from the Falkland Islands government released on Tuesday takes note of comments from Argentine Federal Judge Lilián Hérraez ordering the seizure of assets pertaining to oil companies and subcontractors operating in the Falkland Islands.

“The people of the Falkland Islands have the unequivocal right to develop our natural resources as we see fit, including the development of a hydrocarbons industry, and we have the full support of the United Kingdom in doing so”, pointed out a statement from the Falkland Islands elected government released on Tuesday.

Likewise “Argentine domestic laws and jurisdiction do not apply in the Falkland Islands, and threats of legal action against companies legitimately operating in Falklands waters are yet further attempts by the Government of Argentina to impede the economic development of the Falkland Islands”.

“This politically motivated decision to target company assets is a wholly unacceptable attempt to exercise extra-territorial jurisdiction, and has no legal justification whatsoever”, affirms the release.

The official “Statement on the subject of Argentine legal action against oil companies and their subcontractors operating in the Falkland Islands” reads as follows:

“The Falkland Islands Government notes the comments from Federal Judge Lillian Hérraez and the ordered seizure of assets pertaining to oil companies and their subcontractors operating in the Falkland Islands.

”The people of the Falkland Islands have the unequivocal right to develop our natural resources as we see fit, including the development of a hydrocarbons industry, and we have the full support of the United Kingdom in doing so.

“Argentine domestic laws and jurisdiction do not apply in the Falkland Islands, and threats of legal action against companies legitimately operating in Falklands waters are yet further attempts by the Government of Argentina to impede the economic development of the Falkland Islands. This politically motivated decision to target company assets is a wholly unacceptable attempt to exercise extra-territorial jurisdiction, and has no legal justification whatsoever.

”The Falkland Islands Government has no doubts about its right to licence legitimate offshore oil and gas exploration activities in accordance with legislation enacted in the Falkland Islands, and will continue to support the hydrocarbons industry as it moves from successful exploration towards investing in offshore oil production”.