Topic: Offshore Drilling
Country: Madagascar
Delegate Name: Katie O’Brien
School: Ann Arbor Community High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Madagascar position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Despite to controversy of off-shore drilling, Madagascar possesses much oil both, off-shore and on-shore, and many companies plan on drilling. As an economically smaller country, Madagascar supports the industrial practice of off-shore drilling.
The resources are there, just off the coast, why should we not use them? In 2005 we discovered this oil. With the discovery came many offers from large oil corporations, such as, Texaco, Shell and BP. Most of the revenue from this goes to Madagascar, so it is helpful to Madagascar’s
In 2005 Madagascar’s Gross Domestic Product was at $240 per person, making it one of the poorest countries in the world, and an oil industry was the perfect way to increase the GDP of Madagascar. Madagascar’s GDP has increased to $900 per person in 2007. In 2005 we hoped to be producing oil in the next 3-4 years.
Our off-shore drilling is not the only extraction of oil on the island, there is about twice the amount on-shore as off-shore.
We understand the environmental complications that go hand in hand to offshore drilling. Just this summer over 100 whales were beached due to testing from the company ExxonMobil in Northern Madagascar. The government helped save many of the whales from a certain death. However, our economy must be built up in order maintain a safe economic standing.
We, Madagascar, believe that off-shore drilling is a viable option for countries hoping to expand their economy. We unfortunately understand the environmental implications involved in off-shore drilling. And therefore the majority comes from on-shore drilling. We also use other forms of energy such as hydropower and solar power in order to be more environmentally friendly.
