Slovenia Demands Say in Adriatic Sea Oil Drilling

Croatia’s neighbours Slovenia want to be involved in the proposed Adriatic oil and drilling process…

The Slovenian Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning have requested from their Croatian counterparts to be included in the planned environmental impact assessment for the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Adriatic Sea, reports The Slovenia Times.

Slovenia feel that Croatia’s plans have ‘cross-border impacts’ and therefore should be involved in the process. UN protocol also backs up Slovenia’s request, noting countries should notify neighbouring countries of its intentions in such cases ‘as soon as possible’ before any plans or programmes are endorsed.

Once Slovenia are included in the process they then can request that consultations are held on any potential environmental issues, and must be kept up to date through the complete process of developments.

U.S-based Marathonoil, Austria’s OMV, Italian multinational ENI, London-based Medoilgas, and INA, owned by the Croatian government and Hungary’s MOL, were all been awarded licences earlier this year to explore and exploit 29 block areas, ranging from 1,000 – 1,600 square kilometres, eight in the northern part of the coast and 21 in central and southern Dalmatia.