Petroceltic it will not drill the Adriatic for oil. The Irish company has filed a waiver application for the exploration permit in the southern Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Tremiti Islands, to the Ministry of Economic Development, which welcomed Petroceltic's resignation "with respect".
The collapse of the Oil prices, which threatens to erase the possible profits linked to this type of investment and which has also put the research projects of some of the sector's giants in crisis: "Since 9 years have passed since the presentation of the application - reads the company note - , a period during which there has been a significant change in the conditions of the world market, Petroceltic Italia has seen the mining interest in the aforementioned permit no longer exist”.
This is how the word ends on one of the most controversial projects in recent years, drilling off the Tremiti Islands. Minister Guidi asks that this decision not be exploited, but Petroceltic's step backwards was welcomed with triumphal tones by Verdi: "What is more important is that the air gun that would have devastated marine biodiversity in one of the most beautiful areas of Italy and beyond will not be used in the depths of the Tremiti", while the referendum on drilling is approaching.
The president of the Puglia Region is also satisfied Michele Emiliano: “We note with satisfaction that, where the common sense of some did not arrive, instead the wisdom of the Petroceltic company has arrived, which has decided to renounce the exploration permit off the coast of the Tremiti Islands. Today we find out from the Petroceltic press release that the operation was not economically convenient for them either, as many of us claimed at the time the research permit was issued”.
