Topic: Offshore Drilling
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Melanie Kruvelis
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Algeria position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
The world today has an insatiable appetite for energy sources – from nuclear power to oil drilling, everyone is looking for a way to secure the fuels necessary to run a substantial nation that's economically sound. The world now consumes 85 million barrels of oil per day, or 40,000 gallons per second, a staggering figure that thoroughly illustrates the immense demand for energy sources. Although the usage of crude oil has been known to initiate climate change, the world cannot currently be weaned off of it. Demand is climbing in exponential numbers, while the amount of oil we can produce is rapidly declining, causing the frantic scramble for new oil sources. As a nation looking to ensure that the average, everyday citizen can afford oil, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria believes offshore drilling is a method that should be utilized to secure this fiscally responsible goal.
As a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Algeria's main objectives regarding the current oil crisis is to secure fair and stable prices for those nations that produce petroleum and to confirm an efficient economical supply of oil to nations with a higher consumption rates, such as the United States and the People's Republic of China. It has become a challenge, however, to guarantee these goals with the decline in resources. Drilling in open waters, over, would allow for a stabilization in petrol prices to arise, through the additional 200,000 barrels the process would produce daily.
Algeria's access to waterways allows it to be a prime target for offshore drilling. The 750-mile coastline would provide a substantial location for the production of crude oil. Offshore drilling would also promote an economic boost for the developing nation. The implementation of this process would allow for a growth in employment opportunities, as well as maintaining oil-related jobs in the region.
Some may argue that the application of offshore drilling would create more harm than good. However, Algeria as a nation rejects this notion and adheres to the development of this method. With proper oversight and funding through the United Nations, steps could be taken to ensure that all safety precautions are upheld, reducing the possibilities of a spill. Taking strides towards developing a temporary solution regarding the oil crisis would allow for the protection of consumerism to transpire.
