The African World Heritage Site is sensitive, should be protected instead of exploited

Mar 12, 2014 23:26 GMT  ·  By

UK-based oil and gas company SOCO International PLC has been eying the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo for quite a while now, and not because it is so utterly fascinated with how beautiful this African World Heritage Site is that it simply cannot bring itself to look away.

On the contrary, the company is looking to carry out oil and gas exploration activities in the region. In fact, the World Wildlife Fund says that seismic tests in the Park's Lake Edwars could begin later this month.

It goes without saying that the organization does not approve of these plans. Interestingly enough, it would appear that neither do two EU reps, i.e. European Union Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and Belgium’s Minister of Development Cooperation Jean-Pascal Labille.

The World Wildlife Fund says that, late last week, the two diplomats issued a joint statement saying that the Virunga National Park was a very sensitive area, and that exploiting it for oil and gas production was nothing short of a really bad idea.

More so given the fact that the park is a critical economic driver for the Democratic Republic of Congo, and can foster sustainable development in this part of the country.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, Andris Piebalgs and Jean-Pascal Labille have asked that “all relevant authorities and company shareholders to do their utmost to ensure that Soco upholds corporate social responsibility standards and the provisions of international treaties, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.”

It remains to be seen whether or not measures to protect the Virunga National Park will be implemented, or if SOCO International PLC will be allowed to move forward with its plans to exploit the region.