Photo: ODT filesProtesters are vowing direct action after oil giant OMV was cleared on Tuesday to drill up to 10 exploration wells off the South Island coast from this summer. Oil Free Otago spokesman Jack Brazil also criticised the move and said protesters would be waiting for the oil giant when it arrived in southern waters. The Tawhaki-1 well site lies in 1300m of water in part of the Great South Basin, which OMV and partner Mitsui have been exploring for 12 years but have yet to drill. The EPA, in granting approval, concluded the possible effects of the drilling were "not significant" and environmental monitoring would be required before and after drilling. That overlooked the bigger picture of rising CO2 emissions and increasing push-back from communities up and down the country, he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 17, 2019 23:15 UTC