By Spy Uganda Correspondent
The Democratic Republic of Congoโs government has rejected a request by U.S. climate envoy John Kerry to withdraw some oil blocks put up for auction to protect forests, Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba said on Wednesday, saying it could undermine the countryโs development.
Environmentalists fear the 30 oil and gas block put up for auction in July could open parts of the worldโs second-biggest rainforest and peat lands to drilling.
Kerry asked for some of the blocks to be withdrawn during a climate conference in Congoโs capital Kinshasa on Monday to protect forests.
He was referring to six blocks that encroached on peat land and the Virunga National Park, according to Bazaiba.
โThose who think the six blocks pose a problem should come and re-assess,โ she said.
โNobody can put pressure on usโฆ no convention in the world, not even the Paris Agreement, forbids a country from emitting CO2 for development reasons,โ she said, adding that a joint US-Congo working group on forest protections was not going to influence the countryโs decision.
Congoโs government has previously insisted it needs to tap its vast natural resources to boost its economy, power industries, and provide electricity to its population.
Bazaiba assured the environmental impact of drilling would be assessed before the blocks were auctioned.
โIf we think it could destroy the environment, we will leave it,โ she said.
