Press release – 27 September, 2016Sydney, 28 September 2016 – The latest knockback to BP’s plans to drill in the Great Australian Bight signals their project is full of holes and too dangerous to be approved, Greenpeace Australia Pacific said today.“BP have again failed to gain approval to drill – this third strike should see them out for good,” said Greenpeace Oceans campaigner Nathaniel Pelle.
Australia’s oil regulator has today rejected BP’s environmenment plan for a third time and asked for more information.
“BP still can’t show they can deal effectively with an oil spill in the Great Australian Bight. In their half-baked environment plan overview, BP themselves say they’d rather save time and money, than bring essential safety equipment to Australia.
“They admit it could take five weeks to stop a spill, by which time much of the Bight’s unique environment would be wrecked. It happened in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, and it could happen here.
“It’s time for BP to take the hint. Australia’s own oil and gas regulator can’t greenlight the project because it’s just too risky.
“To go ahead with oil exploration in a whale sanctuary without the best oil spill safety equipment on hand would be reckless and irresponsible. It’s time to end this charade,” said Pelle.
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