Virgin rainforest targeted for oil drilling

Unspoilt Amazonian rainforests covering an area almost as large as Texas have been provisionally earmarked for oil and gas exploration.

A new report reveals that the area has been divided into 180 “blocks” designated for exploration by governments of countries that own the land on the western fringe of the Amazon. Their intention is to lease the blocks to oil and gas companies for exploration and extraction, taking a cut of any revenues as a royalty. About 35 oil companies are vying for the contracts.

… The researchers reveal that most governments involved, including those of Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and western Brazil, have accelerated their plans to lease off the blocks.

In 2004, for example, blocks covered only 15% of Peruvian-owned rainforest. Now, just four years on, they cover 72%. One, called block 67, is close to being developed by Perenco of France.

New Scientist