- Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Oil exploration a threat to Virunga National Park
- Date: 9th October 2013
- Summary: VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, DRC (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VIRUNGA MOUNTAINS/ELECTRICITY PLANT VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, EMMANUEL DE MERODE AND ELECTRICIANS CHECKING IF THE ELECTRIC TURBINES ARE WORKING WELL IN VIRUNGA PARK PARK DIRECTOR BADGE READING VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK VARIOUS OF WATERFALLS ON RWENZORI MOUNTAINS VARIOUS OF DE MERODE AND RANGERS WALKING IN THE PARK (SOUNDBITE) (French) EMMANUEL DE MERODE, DIRECTOR OF VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK SAYING: "There are major threats to the park, there's the situation of armed conflict, (and) the pressures from different industries including petrol. We have to demonstrate that the park can contribute to development, on a level playing field with these other economic sectors VARIOUS OF AERIAL OF ACTIVE VOLCANO IN PARK, MOUNT NYIRAGONGO GOMA, DRC (RECENT) (REUTERS) STREET SCENES IN GOMA (SOUNDBITE) (French) JEAN CLAUDE BAMBANZE, PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY OF RUTSHURU SAYING: "For me, this seems like a really good opportunity, because not only is that going to improve unemployment for the residents, but also that will improve the local economy, and why not even the economy of the country?" KINSHASA, DRC (OCTOBER 08, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF) HEADQUARTERS BUILDING VARIOUS OF PROFESSOR RAYMOND LUMBUENAMO WWF NATIONAL MANAGER WORKING IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (French) RAYMOND LUMBUENAMO, NATIONAL MANAGER OF WWF IN DRC SAYING: "What are the consequences of oil exploration? The first consequence will be the effect it will have on the fisheries, which is the main resource that the communities around and inside the park depend on. The fisheries will be put in danger, especially due to the pollution that will surely be caused by oil exploration." VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, DRC (RECENT ) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BABOONS CLIMBING TREES KINSHASA, DRC (OCTOBER 08, 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) RAYMOND LUMBUENAMO, NATIONAL MANAGER OF WWF IN DRC SAYING: "What we are trying to do is to make the government understand that there are ways for the park to bring in revenues, within a peaceful context, whereby the park can bring in more than oil production. If we let Virunga become an oil exploration site, what will happen is that we will be selling to Soco once and for all. But if we make Virunga park a jewel that everyone wants to come and visit, then we can sell Virunga many times over, through tourism. But if we take the exploration route, then we will be taking the point of no return." VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, DRC (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MONKEYS PLAYING IN THE TREES
- Embargoed: 24th October 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Topics: Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA2MT4MNK5XQWZQKUGNWBVJDU96
- Story Text: The gleaming machinery and thrumming roar of the hydro-plant's turbines seem out of place in the sleepy village of Mutwanga, nestled in the shadow of the Africa's tallest mountain range, and on the edge of Virunga, the continent's oldest national park.
The 0.4 MW hydro-plant - driven by a river springing high up in Virunga's dense, cloud-shrouded forests - will provide power for 30,000 people and two new factories in an area suffering from rampant rural poverty and violence, according to Virunga's director, Emmanuel de Merode.
"There are major threats to the park, there's the situation of armed conflict, (and) the pressures from different industries including petrol. We have to demonstrate that the park can contribute to development, on a level playing field with these other economic sectors," said de Merode.
Funded by the European Union and built by the park's authorities, it also represents the latest move in an ongoing war over the future of the UNESCO world heritage site, which is becoming an increasing focus for those seeking to exploit central Africa's oil deposits.
Created in 1925, the 27,000 km2 park is home to active volcanoes, forests, savannah and some of the world's last mountain gorillas.
But tourism lodges lie empty and none but the most adventurous travellers visit, due to a nearly two decades long conflict in the region which has left millions dead and great swathes of territory - much of it in the park itself - under rebel control.
The discovery of oil near the border with Virunga in Congo's more stable neighbor Uganda has prompted growing interest from the Congolese authorities about the potential of blocks lying in what is known as the Albertine Graben, along the country's eastern border.
Last year they gave British company Soco International permission to begin aerial surveys within the so-called Block 5, around Lake Edward, in the heart of Virunga, a move that has sparked outrage amongst conservationists and prompted the British government to come out against the idea of extractive activities within the park.
But for long suffering locals living in one of the most beautiful and one of the poorest places in the world, the presumed wealth generated by oil seems an attractive option.
"For me, this seems like a really good opportunity, because not only is that going to improve unemployment for the residents, but also that will improve the local economy, and why not even the economy of the country?" Jean Claude Bambanze, the president of civil society in Rutshuru, which borders the park, said.
Nationally, the debate over Virunga has raised questions over how a country whose economy lies in ruins after decades of corruption and conflict can best profit from an area of outstanding natural beauty, but possibly also great mineral wealth.
Congo's laws currently forbid any exploration within the national park, although the government is preparing to submit a new oil code to parliament which if passed would provide a loophole in cases of "national interest," although that would still leave the problem of Virunga's UNESCO world heritage status, another bar to any encroachment in the park.
But Congo's oil minister has repeatedly said the country had the right to know what was under the ground in Virunga before deciding what to do.
Last month the environment minister told journalists that those internationally who want the park protected will have to make it worth Congo's while to do so.
Any attempt to carry out seismic surveying in the park could put Soco and the government on a collision course with UNESCO, which prohibits such activities within World Heritage sites.
Conservation group WWF has accused Britain's Soco International of breaching guidelines on responsible business by exploring for oil in Congo's Virunga park, a last refuge for the region's mountain gorillas, and said the work must stop, citing environmental risks to potential oil projects.
"What are the consequences of oil exploration? The first consequence will be the effect it will have on the fisheries, which is the main resource that the communities inside and around the park depend on. The fisheries will be put in danger, especially due to the pollution that will surely be caused by oil exploration," said Raymond Lumbuenamo, WWF national manager in DRC.
According to Soco, the company has established with the Congolese government that it would be acting legally to carry out exploration under Lake Edward.
Company representatives also said they had received an overwhelmingly positive response over its potential activities within the park.
However, WWF and other conservation groups insist the Virunga would best benefit Congo by being left untouched.
"What we are trying to do is to make the government to understand that there are ways for the park to bring in revenues, within a peaceful context, whereby the park can bring in more than oil production. If we let Virunga become an oil exploration site, what will happen is that we will be if selling to Soco once and for all. But if we make Virunga park a jewel that everyone wants to come and visit, then we can sell Virunga many times over, through tourism. But if we take the exploration route, then we will be taking the point of no return," added Lumbuenamo.
A WWF-commissioned study said the park could contribute $48.9 million annually to the economy, climbing to $1.1 billion per year if a tourism sector can be established there. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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