November 9, 2018 - The first part of the protest march of the SOS for Montenegro Network ended tonight at around 7.30 pm when the participants arrived in Petrovac. The civic protest against the oil and gas exploration program in the Montenegrin submarine continues tomorrow at 7 am when activists move towards Budva, and it is planned that the second day will be completed in Tivat.
SOS for Montenegro to Prevent Eco and Seizmic Dangers
During the four-day event, the citizens marched a total of 145 kilometers, extending the coast from Ulcinj to Herceg Novi, in order to alert the public and warn of the dangers threatening the research activities. In addition to being detrimental to the marine ecosystem, exploration of air cannons can also induce earthquakes, which is particularly concerning because research will be conducted in a zone near the epicenter of a catastrophic earthquake that hit the Montenegrin coast in 1979, claims the SOS for Montenegro Network.
Seismic Vessel Comes Tomorrow
In September 2016, Montenegro signed a concession agreement for exploration and production of oil and gas with the Eni-Novatek consortium for four blocks in the Montenegrin submarine near Ulcinj. The Directorate for Carbon Dioxides states that the nearest block of points is about 8 miles from the Montenegrin coast.
In this particular case, seismic research will cover a territory of about 1200 square kilometers in the part of the blocks for which the consortium Eni-Novatek has obtained a concession for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons.
The seismic research will be conducted by the Norwegian company Shearwater by ship Polar Empress, which is coming to Ulcinj waters tomorrow. Polar Empress is a science-research vessel that will make the necessary formalities on the anchorage, and the other two Ocean Mermaid and 7 Waves vessels, which will support research activities, will be in Port of Adria.
The project will last for 45 days and includes 3D seismic surveys of the Montenegrin submarine, was confirmed by the maritime agency Nimont, the agent to the Norwegian company.
SOS for Montenegro is SOS for Adriatic
Mosor Prvan from the ecological organization World Wild Fund Adria (WWF Adria), which has been actively involved in the two-year campaign against exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the Croatian submarine, stated that citizens must be aware of all the real dangers that carry such activities, which is not the case in Montenegro. The Croatian government was forced to withdraw from its plans, following the pressures of the public, which the pertinent attitudes of the relevant experts were presented through the campaign. Prvan emphasized that the Adriatic is a small and closed sea and all activities of such are to be of the great influence on the whole ecosystem.
SOS for Montenegro is Not Alone At Home
The Green Home organization called on the Montenegrin Government to withdraw the contract with the consortium Eni Novatek, while the SOS Montenegro network, in addition to the organization of the march, initiated a petition against the planned activities. Both organizations are strongly supported by the informal civic organization Bokobran Initiative and a lot of local activists along the coastline, who is expected to join the march along its route.
The SOS for Montenegro march comes from Petrovac via Budva to Tivat, where protestants are expected to arrive tomorrow night, continuing on Sunday to Kotor. The departure for Herceg Novi is planned on Monday, November 12th.
