Pacific potential shown by surveys

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 14

Pacific potential shown by surveys

NZPA Canberra The United States and Australia expect to increase marine surveys around Pacific island nations after a. major series of surveys which shbwed some areas had petroleum exploration potential. ' Foreign Affairs sources said yesterday the Australian Government had expressed concern to the United States about increased Soviet activity in the Pacific, and this was likely to increase after the promising survey results. The Russians have for some years been offering developing island nations oceanographic and-scientific facilities.

The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Anthony Street, recently announced that a series of marine geoscientific investigations conducted jointly by- the United States, Australia, and New Zealand had been completed. . The surveys were around ; Tonga, Vanuatii, Fiji, the So-, lomon Islands, and PapuaNew Guinea. The sources said that

scientists engaged in the latest surveys had described petroleum and mineral potential in the area as “quite promising.” Data gathered by one of the United States research vessels south of Tonga and between the twin island chains in Vanuatu and the Solomons were described as “having petroleum potential.”

It is expected to. take 18 months before a full scientific evaluation of the surveys is completed and before reports are sent to the island governments.

The sources said it was hoped that the encouraging early results ’ would urge petroleum exploration companies to take up leases in the island countries. The concern about Soviet interest increased recently with an incident involving a survey vessel off the Austra-lian-administered Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The Soviet research ship Antaris radioed the administration asking permission to land and make repairs. The

ship was directed to an anchorage but it ignored the direction and moored off North Keeling Island.

Departmental sources said the ship was asked to move into the allotted anchorage three times and when the directions were ignored an administration launch was sent to investigate. However by the time it arrived the Antaris had left. Sources said the incident was conveyed to the Soviet Embassy in Canberra. The department has denied reports of Soviet submarines being sighted off the islands, but it is believed islanders have reported possible submarine sightings. Sources said the latest series of joint surveys had been prompted by the increased Soviet offers of “all sorts of research projects” to the island nations.

Island governments had approached Australia to say they wanted the work done, g but preferred Australia and the United States to the Soviet Union.