Greenpeace stages protest against BP’s offshore drilling plan

Greenpeace UK activists are staging a protest in front of the UK headquarters of the oil giant BP, protesting against the company’s plans to drill near a coral reef offshore Brazil.

The protesters were carrying signs which read “BP, back off the Amazon Reef” and  tropical fish and jellyfish shaped inflatables, depicting the marine life that might be put in danger should the British company press forward with its drilling plans.

In a Facebook post on Monday on the Greenpeace UK account, Greenpeace said 30 activists were protesting right outside BP’s HQ.

The activists are hoping to prevent BP from drilling near the Amazon Reef, which they say is „a pristine ecosystem of pink corals, sunset-colored fish and over 60 species of sea sponge,“ as they fear a potential oil spill would be “disastrous for the reef, and have a huge impact on people and animals in the region.”

BP has tweeted the following response to the protest: “BP operates one exploration block in the Foz do Amazonas basin, around 160 km offshore Brazil. We have a commitment to begin drilling operations for an exploration well on this block by August 2018.

“Drilling operations will only begin after a drilling license is granted by the Brazilian federal environment agency. We are now engaged in the process required to gain this permission, including submitting an environmental impact assessment for review and approval.

“As in all our operations, BP’s top priority in this work will be safety – applying the best practices and technology to ensure safe operations and protect the environment.”

Arrests in Norway

Just a few days back, Norwegian authorities have stopped a protest by Greenpeace against Statoil’s drilling activities in the Barents Sea offshore Norway, seizing the organization’s ship and arresting 35 activists and crew on board.

Greenpeace activists had on Thursday entered a 500-meter safety exclusion zone of Statoil’s drilling rig Songa Enabler in the Barents Sea, demanding an end to the drilling in the Arctic.

Greenpeace claimed it had halted the operation of the rig and, after several hours, the Norwegian Coast Guard arrested the Arctic Sunrise ship, the activists and crew members.

According to the organization’s statement late on Thursday, the ship was being towed away from the drilling site to the mainland in Tromsö, Northern Norway.

Offshore Energy Today Staff