Skip to content
  • Our Work
    • Our Work
    • Climate
    • Forests
    • Freshwater
    • Oceans
    • Wildlife
    • Sustainable Finance
    • Sustainable Business
  • About Us
    • About us
    • Chairman & CEO’s Note
    • Board of Directors
    • Senior Management
    • Whistleblowing Policy
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Annual reports
    • News & Events
    • Blog
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships
    • Corporate Partnerships
Menu
  • Our Work
    • Our Work
    • Climate
    • Forests
    • Freshwater
    • Oceans
    • Wildlife
    • Sustainable Finance
    • Sustainable Business
  • About Us
    • About us
    • Chairman & CEO’s Note
    • Board of Directors
    • Senior Management
    • Whistleblowing Policy
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Annual reports
    • News & Events
    • Blog
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships
    • Corporate Partnerships
Menu
  • Support WWF
    • Donate
    • Adopt
    • Shop
Menu
  • Support WWF
    • Donate
    • Adopt
    • Shop
  • Our Work
    • Our Work
    • Climate
    • Forests
    • Freshwater
    • Oceans
    • Wildlife
    • Sustainable Finance
    • Sustainable Business
  • About Us
    • About us
    • Chairman & CEO’s Note
    • Board of Directors
    • Senior Management
    • Whistleblowing Policy
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Annual reports
    • News & Events
    • Blog
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships
    • Corporate Partnerships
DONATE
ADOPT
SHOP

Building a future in which people live in harmony with nature

Facebook Instagram Youtube Linkedin Twitter

UK government opposes Soco’s oil exploration in Virunga

UK government opposes Soco’s oil exploration in Virunga

October 24, 2013
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

Plans by London-based oil company Soco International PLC to explore for oil in a fragile African World Heritage Site have hit firm opposition from the UK government.

In a written response to a question on the issue posed by a fellow UK parliament member, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Mark Simmonds reiterated last week that the country is against Soco’s oil activities in area.

“The UK continues to oppose oil exploration in Virunga National Park,” Simmonds said. “The park is a World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO as being ‘in Danger’.”

Simmonds added that British diplomats in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have notified Congolese authorities of the country’s position.

“The UK embassy in Kinshasa has raised oil exploration in the park at various levels in the DRC government and we have made clear to them that we oppose such activity.”

Despite concerns from humanitarian groups, conservationists and local community members, Soco has moved forward with oil exploration in Virunga, Africa’s oldest national park.

Earlier this month WWF filed a formal complaint with the UK government alleging that Soco’s operations in DRC violate human rights and environmental standards. Evidence submitted includes reports of unlawful detentions, intimidation and threats against the safety of anti-oil activists, WWF contends.

“Soco has disregarded good business practice by flouting international treaty provisions that are meant to protect the outstanding universal value of this World Heritage Site,” said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation at WWF International. “That is not how a responsible corporation behaves. Virunga is no place for an oil company and Soco should leave now.”

Over half a million people have joined WWF to demand that Virunga National Park be protected from the damaging impacts of oil. The World Heritage Site is home to endangered species and provides fish and freshwater to over 50,000 nearby residents.

CONTACT

Alona Rivord, arivord@wwfint.org, +41 79 959 1963.

PrevBack to Previous Page
NextNext

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

RELATED LINKS

Read the UK government statement here

Learn more about the threat to Virunga posed by oil exploration

SHARE THIS

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

RELATED ARTICLES

WWF-Singapore’s new report finds that clean cooling solutions are critical for Singapore to achieve climate targets

June 30, 2022

WWF-Singapore and Temasek Foundation open admissions to youths to join Class of 2022 for Youth Sustainability Incubator Programme – We Got This

April 12, 2022

WWF-Singapore launches pilot aimed at reducing e-commerce packaging waste

April 5, 2022
Subscribe to the WWF newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest news on WWF’s work.
Facebook Instagram Youtube Linkedin Twitter

Building a future in which people live in harmony with nature

Contact Us
354 Tanglin Road #02-11, Tanglin Block Tanglin International Centre Singapore 247672

+65 6730 8100

info@wwf.sg

Our Work
  • Climate
  • Forests
  • Freshwater
  • Oceans
  • Wildlife
  • Sustainable Finance
  • Sustainable Business
Menu
  • Climate
  • Forests
  • Freshwater
  • Oceans
  • Wildlife
  • Sustainable Finance
  • Sustainable Business
About Us
  • Work With Us
  • About WWF
  • Chairman & CEO Note
  • Board and Leadership
  • Senior Management
  • Whistleblowing Policy
  • Personal Data Protection Policy
Menu
  • Work With Us
  • About WWF
  • Chairman & CEO Note
  • Board and Leadership
  • Senior Management
  • Whistleblowing Policy
  • Personal Data Protection Policy
Resources
  • Blog
  • News & Events
Menu
  • Blog
  • News & Events
Partnerships
  • Corporate Partnerships
  • Sustainable Business
  • Sustainable Finance
Menu
  • Corporate Partnerships
  • Sustainable Business
  • Sustainable Finance
Be A Part of WWF
  • Adopt A Species
  • Be A Volunteer
  • Create Your Own Fundraiser
  • Online Shop
Menu
  • Adopt A Species
  • Be A Volunteer
  • Create Your Own Fundraiser
  • Online Shop

©️ 2021 WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature (Singapore) Limited (UEN 200602275E) |
©️ 1986 Panda Symbol WWF – World Wide Fund For Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund) | ®️ “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademark