Burgundy to exclude Tubbataha from exploration contract
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:27:00 03/14/2008
SINGAPORE -- The Department of Energy (DOE) said Friday that oil exploration firm Burgundy Global Exploration Corp. is willing to exclude the Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park from oil and gas exploration.
The announcement was made in response to calls from the park management to exclude over 15,000 hectares of the marine park.
The said area overlaps with petroleum service contract 61, which was awarded to Burgundy in July 2006, allowing it to conduct exploration activities in the concession area.
In August 2006, the Philippine government through Presidential Proclamation No. 1126 declared Tubbataha as a protected area owing to its pristine reefs and the very high diversity of fish.
The DOE, for its part, will not allow exploration over the Tubbataha National Park. The Tubbataha Reefs is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In response, Burgundy officials expressed willingness to leave the overlapping area untouched. Located about 92 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Tubbataha now covers 96,828 hectares.
Burgundy is a Filipino-owned corporation and a member of the Burgundy Group of Companies. SC-61 was awarded to the company under the DOE's Philippine Energy Contract Rounds 2005.
The service contract is believed to have a potential for huge hydrocarbon discovery.
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