UK minister will not sanction licences without more knowledge
Wicks vow over Welsh acreage
UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has promised he will not sanction any oil and
gas licensing in Cardigan Bay off Wales until the government feels it has
gathered enough scientific knowledge about dolphin activity in the area.
Wicks told Upstream: "We will not move ahead with issuing licences in that
particular area until we are absolutely certain from an environmental point
of view there will be no harm to the local dolphin population."
About 70% of the Welsh coastline and marine waters are designated as some form
of protected area, but that has not prevented the UK government from
offering 25th round acreage in some relatively pristine environments.
Local campaign group Save Our Sea (SOS) has expressed dismay that the
government once again chose to offer acreage in Cardigan Bay in the 25th
round.
Read the full story in today's edition of Hardcopy.
09 May 2008 06:57 GMT
| last updated:
09 May 2008 06:57 GMT
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