Offshore exploration receives fresh boost

But a federal moratorium of offshore oil and gas exploration, in place for more than 30 years, has prevented tests to determine if the resources are even there.

With the price of oil reaching unprecedented heights ($129 per barrel this week) and with B.C.'s forestry and other natural resource industries in decline, oil industry advocates hope there will soon be some movement toward developing a viable offshore oil and gas industry in the province.

However, environmental groups continue to be adamantly opposed to any notion of lifting the federal moratorium, stating it isn't worth the environmental risks and society should concentrate on weaning itself off of its dependence on fossil fuels and develop alternative and renewable energy sources.

Barry Holmes, past-chairman of Ocean Industries B.C., said the fact that the industry can't even confirm studies by the Geological Survey of Canada estimating there may be as much as 9.8 billion barrels of oil and 25.9 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Queen Charlotte Basin, off B.C.'s north coast, is "ridiculous."

"Seismic exploration for oil and gas is going on worldwide for many years and there has not been any damage done to aquatic environments anywhere because the technology is there to mitigate the environmental risks," he said.

Nanaimo Mayor Gary Korpan voted for a successful motion in 2004 for the city to support the lifting of the federal moratorium.

He said Nanaimo would stand to benefit economically if an oil and gas industry was developed off Vancouver Island, with Duke Point's deep water port and industrial infrastructure.

But Korpan said the whole issue is moot until such a time as the existence of large reservoirs of oil and gas off the coast are confirmed through exploration and testing.

The Dogwood Initiative environmental organization is one of the group's leading the charge against any plans for offshore oil and gas development.

Spokesman Charles Campbell said non-renewable fossil fuels are becoming more scarce and harder to get at and society should look to other renewable sources of energy to fill its needs.

He said the carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuels is warming the globe "to a frightening degree."

Holmes said Canada can learn a lot from Norway, which has grown wealthy from its offshore oil industry and is now investing significantly into alternate energy research.