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Rio Grande court orders halt to Sea Lion oil project works in the Falklands
An injunction ordered Rockhopper and Navitas not to begin or continue work linked to the venture until the environmental impact assessment advances before Argentine authorities. The companies must also report the project’s status.
The Federal Court in Rio Grande issued a precautionary measure ordering Rockhopper Exploration and Navitas Petroleum Development and Production Limited to halt the start or continuation of works linked to the Sea Lion oil project, located north of the Falkland Islands. The ruling was signed by Judge Mariel Borruto.
According to the ruling cited by TN, the decision covers drilling, subsea installations and the start of production. According to Infobae América and C5N, the suspension will remain in force until the environmental impact assessment procedure is processed before the competent national authority, unless the court orders otherwise.
The magistrate clarified that this is a provisional measure and does not imply a final determination on the defendants’ liability or on the merits of the case. She also noted, according to the published texts, that at this stage it cannot be said that environmental damage will occur, but it can be said that the procedure provided to assess its possible impacts and the prevention or mitigation measures was not carried out.
Infobae América and C5N indicated that the filing was promoted by the Centro de Ex Combatientes Islas Malvinas La Plata and the Asociación Civil de Abogados, Abogadas y Profesionales Ambientalistas. Both outlets also noted that the judge took into account information from the Environmental Impact Assessment Directorate of the Undersecretariat of Environment, which reported that no assessment process had been initiated with the companies mentioned.
In addition, the companies must submit within ten days of notification an affidavit with documentation on the current status of Sea Lion. They will have to detail the construction schedule, drilling and start of production, the number and location of the wells, the floating units and equipment contracted, the contractors and subcontractors, the corporate structure, financing, insurers and environmental studies, among other points, according to TN.
Infobae América added that the ruling also ordered the preservation of all technical, environmental, corporate, contractual, financial and insurance documentation linked to the project. That outlet also noted that the judge did not grant, for now, a broader request to generally prohibit new financing operations, and that she left for later any possible communications to foreign regulators and stock markets.
Meanwhile, Infobae América reported that Federal Court No. 11 in Comodoro Py launched a criminal investigation against Desire Petroleum Limited and requested measures to gather information on that company and on the Rockhopper group. According to that outlet, this is a separate case from the one being heard in Rio Grande.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do original reporting on this event.
