CUBA: Cuban - US communication lapse could lead to an oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Record ID: 343818

  • Title: CUBA: Cuban - US communication lapse could lead to an oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Date: 28th October 2009
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (FILE - 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SMOKESTACKS AT SUNSET
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: International Relations,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA4Q1OZUHCS8TIH9OJ1BQYIDOBW
  • Story Text: American scientists have called for the United States and Cuba to put aside their ideological and political differences and adopt measures against environmental disasters in the Gulf of Mexico where the island nation is planning to begin exploring for oil.
    A possible oil spill in Cuba could lead to black crude washing up on the shores of the United States in just a matter of days. Scientists worry that the lack of communication could end up costing the environment a heavy price once Cuba starts issuing exploration licenses in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico where experts believe there could be more than 20 billion barrels of oil.
    David Guggenheim, an American marine scientist organized an environmental conference this week in Havana he encouraged discussion between the Cuban and U.S. governments to facilitate the work of researchers.
    "We're getting some encouraging signs about changes in the political environment, but nothing substantive at this point. But what I'm hopeful of is that we do see change because right now the biggest barriers to collaboration are things like getting visas for Cuban visitors, permitting, getting our licenses to do our work, permitting the exchange of technology," he said.
    He also warned American, Cuban and Mexican scientists of the possibly devastating affects of an oil disaster off the coast of Cuba.
    "The challenge is understanding what are the consequences of a disastrous oil spill. Because the consequences that I am aware of is that much of that oil would end up in the Florida Keys and up the east coast of Florida," he said.
    "To me that means at a minimum we need a dialogue on emergency response that's coordinated and that both sides are keeping each other informed about how to deal with an emergency like that. Because that could be an ecological disaster," Guggenheim added.
    Cuba and the United States have been estranged since the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro brought communism to the island nation.
    Although there is still no dates set for drilling, the possibility of finding oil in the Gulf has attracted several companies including the Spanish Repsopl-YPF and the Brazilian oil giant Petrobras.
    The only companies excluded were American oil companies because of the embargo set by Washington back in 1962 to undermine the communist country.
    President Barack Obama said earlier this year he plans to "re-launch" relations with Cuba and some environmentalists hope one of the areas he will look into opening more communication could be on environmental issues.
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