WWF condemns Soco seismic testing in Virunga
24 APRIL 2014 – In defiance of local protests and international opposition, UK company Soco International PLC will start on Saturday the seismic testing phase of its controversial oil exploration project in Virunga National Park, according to media reports.
Residents living near the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) park say that portions of Lake Edward will be closed to fishing while Soco searches for subterranean oil reserves. If deposits are found, WWF understands that the company intends to drill exploration wells in the lake.
"WWF condemns in the strongest terms Soco's unacceptable operations in Virunga National Park. It is irresponsible for Soco to disregard the national and international laws protecting this World Heritage Site. The company is putting the livelihoods of thousands of people at risk," said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation at WWF International.
Lake Edward’s fishery generates an estimated US$30 million annually for residents living near Virunga National Park, according to independent analysis commissioned by WWF. Over 50,000 households rely on the lake for their freshwater supply, the study found.
In addition to the loss of fishing jobs and revenue, Soco own environmental impact assessment indicates that exploratory drilling could lead to air pollution, pulmonary diseases, water contamination, invasive species or habitat loss in the fragile ecosystem.
After being briefed on seismic testing by Soco, civil society groups issued an open letter saying, “We believe that oil exploration would bring a new and unacceptable level of risk to the environment and communities of Virunga.”
The UK foreign office echoed local concerns by reaffirming its opposition to Soco’s activity in Virunga. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has also objected, along with multiple European Union member states and representatives.
“Fishermen, farmers and local entrepreneurs who depend on Virunga are objecting vehemently to Soco’s presence in their park, and numerous members of the international community have joined them,” Gustavsson said. “Virunga could be a source of hope for eastern DRC if is fisheries, hydropower and ecotourism potential is developed sustainably. Soco should not be allowed threaten the future of this irreplaceable park.”
“As a publically-traded company, Soco is accountable to its shareholders. We urge investors to reject exploration in Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse national park,” Gustavsson said.
CONTACT
Alona Rivord, arivord@wwfint.org, +41 79 959 1963. Images of Virunga National Park are available for media use here.
ABOUT WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.