World Heritage demands report on Malawi oil exploration
Malawi has been given three months to defend itself on reports that oil and gas exploration activities are in progress on Lake Malawi while the environmental and social impact assessments is not completed.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage Centre has given Malawi Government up to February 1 2017 to produce a report following concerns by an independent source.
Oil exploration activities are currently underway on Lake Malawi by Hamra and Ras al Khaima Gas (Rak Gas) after government initially suspended the exercise following misunderstandings on licence awarding and product sharing agreement (PSA).
In a letter dated November 10 2016, signed by World Heritage Centre director Mechtild Rossler, the world body wants Malawi to respond before the stated date when it is also expected to provide a progress report on the state of conservation of the Lake Malawi National Park, which is one of the country’s two world heritage sites.
“We look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible, and no later than February 1 2017,” reads part of the letter sent to government through Malawi’s Embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
The letter has also been copied to Malawi National Commission for Unesco and the Ministry of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development.
While acknowledging receipt of the letter, Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development Patricia Kaliati said government would respond accordingly after a Cabinet committee has discussed the contents.
“I have received the letter, but we are yet to discuss it for the way forward. The Cabinet committee will have to deliberate and then see how best to respond to it. We need to look at the issues and concerns raised before giving our position,” Kaliati said yesterday.
Lake Malawi National Park was awarded World Heritage status in 1984 for its outstanding universal value and is home to over 1 000 endemic cichlid fish.
This is the second time this year that the World Heritage Centre has written Malawi Government expressing concern over the oil and gas exploration on Lake Malawi.
The body protested against the country’s decision to grant an exploration concession and demanded government to cancel the contract. n
So up to now UNESCO does not know that Lake Malawi belongs to the sovereign state of Malawi and that Malawi is entitle to use all its resources to the benefit of her people……….
Why should Malawi remain the poorest country in the world while siting on tonnes and tonnes of black gold under lake Malawi?
My advise to Malawi is that please continue with the oil exploration and when finished, calculate the value of the oil and gas deposits that is under the lake and give UNESCO the quotation to pay an equivalent value if they do not want any oil drilling under lake Malawi.
First it was plant tobacco for us to smoke. Now they tell you we no longer need it,we have E-Cigarettes and the masses are suffering with hunger and lots of unwanted tobacco.Now they are saying we need oil and in less than a decade,They will say we no longer need Oil we have Electric Vehicles and you will be the ones left with no drinking water.Until the last river or lake is polluted thats When you will know you can’t drink or eat no Money.