La guerre des Malouines dans les relations internationales

Dix-septième partie - Les négociations depuis la guerre entre les deux nations
Drilling for oil to start in Falkland Islands 5
The inhabitants of the Falkland Islands are preparing for a South Atlantic oil
rush which they hope will make them among the richest people in the world.
After 10 years of frustrating delays since oil fields containing up to 60 billion
barrels of "black gold" were discovered off the islands, oil companies are
planning to start drilling within the next 12 months.
The move follows the conclusion of lengthy, but successful, tests by geologists
and significant cash injections by two major oil companies which plan to
bring rigs to the islands by as early as autumn.
The companies with licences to drill in the area met in Edinburgh on Friday
to brief officials from the Falkland' government on their progress, and
preparations are under way in the South Atlantic to ensure that the islands
can cope with sudden wealth.
The successful extraction of oil could bring billions of pounds to the 3,000
islanders, in a cash bonanza similar to that enjoyed by Gulf states after the
development of oil fields there.
However, the effect would be magnified because of the tiny population of the
archipelago - which was the subject of the 1982 war between Britain and
Argentina - and its already high standard of living. The islands' GDP is £75
million, giving them one of the highest per capita rates in the world.
The capital, Stanley, is gearing up to become the Falkland' answer to the
Klondike, with a redevelopment of its dockyard area and construction of 350
houses in the pipeline.
5 Telegraph, by Jasper Copping, 09 Mar 2008
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