Norwegian oil company Equinor tours South Australia, reaffirms commitment to drilling in the Great Australian Bight
Representatives of Norwegian oil company Equinor have arrived in Ceduna, where it would be partly based if its application to drill the Bight is approved.
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Oil exploration company Equinor has reinforced its commitment to drill in the Great Australian Bight and says it remains undeterred by a groundswell of opposition from environmental groups.
Equinor Australia’s country manager Jone Stangeland is touring South Australia this week with members of the Norwegian company’s communications team.
The group on Wednesday visited Ceduna, where some of its operations will be based if its application to drill is approved by the federal regulator.
Equinor’s presence on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula has been met with hostility from some locals, who on Tuesday night protested with signs reading: “Equinor you are not welcome here”.
Penong resident Trina Spitzkowsky, 56, said locals had questions they wanted Equinor to answer – such as why it had capped oil wells around the world but wanted to drill in The Bight – but couldn’t secure a meeting with staff from Norway.
Equinor was also criticised by the Greens’ Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Wilderness Society SA director Peter Owen during meetings in Adelaide on Monday.
But Mr Stangeland said the Bight was “an important asset in our global exploration portfolio” and it had not shifted in its resolve.
“Equinor remains committed to the opportunity to explore the Great Australian Bight,” he said.
“Once all regulatory approvals are in place, we plan to start drilling in the summer of 2020-21.”
Mr Stangeland did not answer questions from The Advertiser about how the company would achieve its “social licence” amid community concerns.
Instead, he said Equinor had heard a range of opinions on exploration in The Bight which were similar to many countries where it operates.
“Everyone wants assurances that exploration in The Bight can be done safely, and many are also interested in the potential economic benefits that would come from a commercial discovery in the region,” Mr Stangeland said.
Equinor has until September 27 to provide further information about its environmental plan before approval can be granted by the federal regulator.
Senator Hanson-Young has accused Equinor of hand-picking a bunch of pro-oil people to meet with on the Eyre Peninsula.
“I urge Equinor to meet with all traditional owner groups, stakeholders and coastal communities who’ll be impacted by drilling in The Bight,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
Wilderness Society’s Peter Owen said opposition to the project would increase if the bid was approved.