The Democratic Republic of Congo Thursday launched a controversial auction of 30 oil and gas blocks, despite warnings that drilling in the country's rainforests and peatlands could be environmentally catastrophic.

Of the 27 oil blocks put up for auction in the capital Kinshasa, nine are in the huge "central basin" rainforest and peatlands region in the west of the country.

Environmental groups such as Greenpeace have warned that plans to drill in the peatlands of the central basin could release vast amounts of heat-trapping gas and amplify global warning.

Opening the auction on Thursday, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi said that exploration work would be carried out "using the most modern technological means that protect the environment".

Any drilling will be subject to a plan designed to minimise harmful effects on ecosystems, he added.

Tshisekedi also said that oil and gas production will allow the DRC to reduce its reliance on mining -- to the benefit of the Congolese people.

About three-quarters of the DRC's population of 90 million people lives on under $1.9 a day, according to World Bank figures, despite the country's huge reserves of minerals gold, copper to cobalt.

Congolese Hydrocarbons Minister Didier Budimbu said Thursday the government would award licensing rights for the three gas blocks after a period of three months, and after a period six months for the 27 oil blocks.

"The companies selected will be called upon to sign production-sharing contracts with the Democratic Republic of Congo," he said.

The minister added that the DRC has the potential to produce 22 billion barrels of oil, as well as 66 billion cubic metres of natural gas.

Scientists have sounded several warnings about DR Congo's peatlands, which comprise an area about the size of England.

Across the entirety of the basin, around 30 billion tonnes of carbon are stored, researchers estimated in a study in Nature in 2016. The figure is roughly equivalent to three years' of global emission.

Related Links
All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Greenpeace launches legal action over UK gas field
London (AFP) July 26, 2022
Greenpeace on Tuesday launched legal action against the UK government, alleging it has allowed Shell to develop a North Sea gas field without assessing a certain impact on the climate. The environmental group said approval in June of the Jackdaw field off the Scottish coast was granted without considering damage caused by the burning of the gas extracted. "We believe this is an astonishing dereliction of the government's legal duty, and we won't let it stand," Philip Evans, oil and gas transitio ... read more