Clashes ahead of Brazil's Libra oil exploration auction

[BAK]

Clashes ahead of Brazil's Libra oil exploration auction

The BBC's Wyre Davies reports as attempts are made to disperse protesters

Brazilian security forces and protesters have clashed in Barra da Tijuca, near Rio de Janeiro, where the Brazilian government is auctioning off exploration rights for a huge oilfield on Monday.
Members of the National Security Force fired tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse some 300 protesters.
Several protesters have been injured.
President Dilma Rousseff had ordered tight security after violent demonstrations in Rio last week.
Continue reading the main story "Start Quote

With only eight months to go before the World Cup, for the government to order the army onto the streets of Barra de Tijuca (the coastal strip to the west of Rio) is not a decision that will have been taken lightly. They will provide images that Brazilian authorities would frankly rather the world did not see at such a critical moment."
​

End Quote Wyre Davies Rio de Janeiro correspondent

---

• Read more from Wyre

Local media said a small number of protesters tried to set a car alight while others tried to block cars carrying officials from Brazil's Mining and Energy Ministry from getting to the hotel where the auction is taking place.
"There were bizarre scenes. Riot police firing tear gas and stun grenades, not just against protesters, but also on to the beach, with hundreds of tourists and sun worshippers looking on incredulously," the BBC's Wyre Davies reported from Rio de Janeiro.
Among the protesters are members of various unions representing oil workers, who have been on strike since Thursday at more than 40 oil platforms and refineries.
'Sell-out'
The unions accuse the government of "selling off" Brazil's riches.
Eleven international oil companies are said to be interested in the Libra oilfield, and nine of them have so far reportedly paid the required registration fee.
The Libra offshore oilfield is located at a depth of some 5,000m (16,500ft), below a thick layer of salt sediments, which makes its exploration extremely challenging.

The site of the Libra auction is well guarded

Protesters set fire to rubbish bins and overturned the car of a local broadcaster

A small group of protesters used corrugated iron sheets as shields

Part of the beach was blocked off to prevent protesters from accessing the area
The Brazilian government hopes that by bringing foreign expertise on board it will be able to exploit Libra's estimated 8-12 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves.
"We're taking over this immense wealth that lies under the sea and on land. It is not available to us if it stays where it is," Mines and Energy Minister Edison Lobao told AFP news agency.
But critics say Brazil should protect the monopoly of exploration of its oil reserves.

The BBC's Wyre Davies: "The figures are almost mindboggling and the opportunities almost endless"


Others argue that the rules set by the government for the auction have scared off big players such as BP and Exxon for allegedly allowing too much state intervention.
The Libra field belongs to the Brazilian government's National Petroleum Agency (ANP) and is part of huge oil reserves discovered in 2010 under a layer of rock, sand and salt beneath the seabed.
The discovery potentially doubles Brazil's known oil reserves.

 

[BAK]

Mnyika apinga leseni za gesi, mafuta

na Mwandishi wetu
Tanzania Daima

WAZIRI Kivuli wa Nishati na Madini, John Mnyika, amemtaka Rais Jakaya Kikwete kusitisha mzunguko wa nne wa utoaji wa leseni za utafutaji wa gesi asili na mafuta hadi sera na sheria ya gesi asili zikamilike, na marekebisho ya sera ya nishati na sheria za mafuta yafanyike.

Mnyika ambaye pia ni mbunge wa Ubungo (CHADEMA), alisema hatua hiyo ni kurejea maoni na mapendekezo aliyoyawasilisha bungeni kwa niaba ya Kambi Rasmi ya Upinzani Mei 22 mwaka huu.
Katika taarifa yake kwa vyombo vya habari jana, alisema rais anapaswa kuchukua hatua hiyo kwa kuzingatia kwamba Mei 25 mwaka huu, badala ya kushughulikia mapendekezo hayo, Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Prof. Sospeter Muhongo alitoa majibu ya uongo na upotoshaji bungeni kuhusu masuala mbalimbali.

"Aidha Ikulu inapaswa kueleza iwapo Baraza la Mawaziri chini ya Rais Kikwete ndilo lililofanya uamuzi wa kuendelea na mchakato wa kutoa leseni za vitalu vya utafutaji wa gesi asili bila ya kuwepo kwa sera ya gesi asili na sheria ya gesi asili, na sera ya nishati na sheria zinazohusu mafuta au ni maamuzi ya Shirika la Maendeleo ya Petroli (TPDC) na Wizara ya Nishati na Madini," alisema.

Mnyika aliongeza kuwa Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda anapaswa kueleza iwapo kauli ya kejeli, dharau na uongo ya hivi karibuni iliyotolewa na Waziri Muhongo, kwamba uwezo wa wafanyabiashara wa Tanzania ni kuwekeza kwenye soda na juisi, si kwenye sekta ya gesi, ni msimamo wa serikali au maoni ya waziri binafsi.
"Izingatiwe kwamba Wizara ya Nishati na Madini, kupitia Shirika la Maendeleo ya Petroli nchini (TPDC), imetangaza mzunguko wa nne wa utoaji leseni za utafiti wa gesi asili na mafuta katika vitalu nane ndani na nje ya maji ya Ziwa Tanganyika vyenye ukubwa wa kilomita za mraba elfu tatu kila kimoja utakaofanyika Oktoba 2013.

"Serikali pia imetenga mipaka ya vitalu viwili kwenye bahari kuu, na kuingia ubia wa utafiti na kampuni inayoitwa mbia wa kimkakati (Strategic Partner) ambae serikali haijamtaja," alisema.
Alisema mchakato huu unafanyika wakati taifa likiwa halina sera (mchakato wa kuiandika bado unaendelea) na hatimaye yaanze maandalizi ya kupata sheria mahususi za kusimamia sekta ndogo ya gesi, hatua ambayo inapaswa kuambatana na marekebisho ya kisera na kisheria ya sekta.

Aliongeza kuwa tayari Tanzania imeshafanya ugunduzi wa futi za ujazo zaidi ya trilioni 32 za gesi katika maeneo kadhaa nchini, hivyo kuifanya kuwa kati ya nchi vinara wa gesi nyingi Afrika na duniani.
"Utajiri huu wa gesi hadi sasa hauna sera wala sheria zinazotoa mwongozo wa usimamizi na udhibiti wake, ili kuhakikisha unawanufaisha Watanzania, kuepuka makosa yaliyofanyika katika uwekezaji mwingine wa gesi asili na rasilimali nyingine uliofanyika bila mifumo thabiti," alisema.

 

[bona]

inasikitisha sana pamoja na brazil kuweka sheria tayar bado watu wanaona kuna tatizo lakini hapa bongo hata sheria hakuna tushakimbilia kwenye kugawa vitalu!!!