The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Environmentalists have expressed concern over the decision of the US oil company Chevron to resume a 3-D seismic survey at the protected Lawachhara forest in Maulvibazar.

The survey is planned to obtain a better image of the gas reserves in the field, now producing around 75 million cubic feet of gas per day. The survey work is likely to double the reserve.

Many environmental organisations claimed that the survey would disrupt the environment of Lawachhara forest, which has an extremely sound ecosystem. It reportedly sustained that at least 167 high profile and valuable plant species, four species of amphibians, six species of reptiles, 246 species of birds and 20 species of mammals. During the 1950s, it was such a dense forest that its interior was dark even at midday. Some of the 1959 movie 'Around The World in 80 Days' was filmed in the Lawachhara forest.

At present, the forest is at a low level. There has been large-scale tree cutting because of the Forestry Department pay for itself. The Department's annual recurrent expenses happen to be the same as the Government's revenue target of about $14.4 million. Revenue is generated from logging operations, auctions of seized timber and permit issuance.

To protect some forest areas from illegal cutting, the Nishorgo Support Project was started, financed by the US Agency for International Development and implemented by the International Resource Group (IRG). It is mentioned that many members of the guard teams had earlier been involved in illegal trade.

In response to the environmentalists' demands, the Ministry of Environment and Forests asked the International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to form an independent expert body to guide the survey work in the protected and sensitive forest areas, to ensure that it is carried out in accordance with the approved environmental impact assessment.

Steve Wilson, President of Chevron's Bangladesh operations, said that the company is in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. It will use only light equipment and will not cut any tree. If gas is found, there will be no drilling in the forest; diagonal drilling will be used instead. After the rainy season, "There will be no trace of a seismic survey in the area," he said.

Chevron began the survey in January this year and will complete it next June. According to Wilson, new drilling will take place if the seismic proves the presence of gas in new reserves. Production may take place at the end of 2009.

Bangladesh produces about 1,700 MMcfd, against a demand for 1,800 MMcfd. According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2006 the country's total gas reserves were estimated to be 5,000 billion cubic feet.