Despite current low oil prices, the oil and gas industry in the Falkland Islands is continuing to go from strength to strength as its first project, Premier Oil’s Sea Lion, moves closer to commercialization, according to an analyst with research and consulting firm GlobalData.
Under this heading Dante Caputo, a former Argentine foreign minister (1983/89) with an impeccable domestic and international academic background addresses the 'Malvinas question' and proposes Argentina sets a 2033 target for a new attempt on the Islands, this time trying to convince the Falkland Islanders, and that in seventeen years time, the country is reliable and sovereignty discussions should then take place.
Michael Fallon, the British Defence Secretary, has become the first Defence Secretary to visit the Falkland Islands in 14 years. The House of Commons is currently in recess this week and the Defence Secretary’s visit directly follows the visit of four other British MPs to the Falklands.
Four British Members of Parliament have been in the Falkland Islands over the past week, whilst the House of Commons is in recess. The cross-party group includes two Labour and two Conservative MPs, with an FIG Representative from London accompanying them.
UN John J. Metzler(*) Reversing the trend of economic mismanagement, ending a fifteen year debt impasse with foreign lenders, calming a percolating political crisis over the disputed Falkland/Malvinas islands in the South Atlantic, and overcoming the image of unpredictability, Argentina’s new conservative government faces serious obstacles in reintroducing Argentina to an often skeptical world.
Ocean Rig UDW Inc. has officially announced that two of its drilling contracts have been terminated, one of them in the Falkland Islands where its Eirik Raude was working for Premier Oil as the main operator. Ocean Rig is demanding a termination fee of several million dollars and in case Premier Oil contests the payment, we intend to commence arbitration proceedings.
Falkland Islands based company, Argos Resources Ltd. said it has received notification from Noble Energy, the operator of license PL001 in which Argos holds a 5% overriding royalty interest, that it is exercising its rights to declare Force Majeure on the well.
Four Argentine amateur swimmers have been training for over a year preparing for the crossing of the Falklands' Sound which separates the two main islands, West from East Falkland. The purpose of the crossing is to bring attention on the 'delayed' process of identifying the remains of Argentine soldiers buried in the Falklands under a headstone that reads Argentine soldier, known only to God.
British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon is scheduled to visit the Falkland Islands this week, the first such visit in over a decade. However the timing of the visit has caused some irritation with the Foreign Office, according to the London media, since it could interfere with the current approach with the new Argentine administration.
Fishing for Illex squid in Falkland’s water took off on Sunday, as the 2016 fishing season opens. A total of 105 fishing licenses have been issued. The number of licenses issued has remained consistent for the past three seasons.