Russia discovers vast oil and gas deposits in British Antarctic Territory

The UK claims a large part of the area in which Russia found its vast reserves.

MPs warned that the surveys were a precursor to drilling rigs being brought in to explore this pristine area for fossil fuels.

Russian research vessels have reported reserves of 511bn barrels – equivalent to North Sea 50-year production — to Moscow, according to testimony given last week to the Commons Environment Audit Committee.

The survey follows those conducted by the Alexander Karpinsky vessel operated by Rosgeo, the Russian agency tasked with finding commercially viable mineral reserves.

The Antarctic Treaty of 1959, which prohibits any mineral or oil development in Antarctica, is supposed to protect it. Foreign Office oversees the UK’s interest, but has been accused by critics of ignoring an emerging crisis.

David Rutley, a junior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (EAC), told the EAC last week that his department decided to trust Russian assurances that it was only conducting scientific research. He added: “Russia recently reaffirmed their commitment to key elements in the treaty.”

Experts in the region disagree and warn that putting any faith in Russia’s ability to adhere to its obligations is naive, as demonstrated by its invasion of Ukraine.

Klaus Dodds is a professor of geopolitics and an expert on Antarctica at Royal Holloway College. He also testified that Russia’s activities are more closely related to oil and gas prospecting than genuine science.

The Antarctic Treaty is facing new challenges, not least of which are bad-faith actors Russia and an increasingly assertive China.

“Rosgeo is engaged in seismic surveys, as well as other surveying activities… Russia’s actions need to be interpreted as a decision by the country to undermine norms related to seismic survey research and ultimately to prepare for future resource extraction.”

The EAC decided to challenge Foreign Office management of UK Antarctic interests after reports were published in the Daily Maverick a South African online magazine, who discovered Moscow’s actions when its survey ship docked at Cape Town.

These issues are likely to be brought to a head later this month in India at the annual meeting of signatories to Antarctic Treaty. Russia will face questions about its plans to extract fossil fuels.

British Antarctic Territory is the most southerly and largest of the UK’s 14 Overseas Territories. It’s also the least friendly, with 99pc covered in ice.

In prehistoric times, the climate was warmer, and vegetation could have allowed fossil fuel deposits form.

The Weddell sea and Antarctic Peninsula are located north-west of the South Pole. This area is historically known as the location where Ernest Shackleton sank his ship Endurance, and could also hold vast oil and natural gas reserves.

The British Antarctic Territory is a large area that has been subject to claims by Argentina and Chile. These will intensify as the results of Russia’s seismological surveys are confirmed through subsequent drilling.

The Foreign Office cofunds the British Antarctic Survey, which has five research stations and 250 employees, with support from the Royal Navy and the research ship RSS David Attenborough. All are regarded as essential not only for science, but also to maintain the UK’s claim to the region.

Experts warn that the Ukraine conflict and rivalry between China & the US are the greatest threats to Antarctica.

Professor Alan Hemmings said that the increasing tensions could lead to the destruction of the treaty which has protected the continent from development. He was the commander of the British Antarctic Survey Station during the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and UK. The treaty will be reviewed in 2048, but any country involved can also walk away at any time.

Hemmings, a researcher now at the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) and co-author of the Handbook on the Politics of Antarctica said: “There’ll never be a sensible time to extract hydrocarbons from the Antarctic. Any attempt to extract hydrocarbons from Antarctica will bring us all down.

“And, as we can see, that is the exact focus of Russian activity right now. “We’re in the middle of very serious tensions, both between Western countries and Russia about Ukraine and between US and China regarding global hegemony.”

Albert Lluberas Bonaba is the executive secretary of Antarctic Treaty Secretariat based in Buenos Aires. He said that such issues will be discussed during the annual conference, but he would not comment on tensions surrounding Russia’s activity.

In a press release, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office reiterated its acceptance of Russian commitments: “Russia assured the Antarctic Treaty Consulting Meeting repeatedly that these activities were for scientific purposes.”

Rosgeo’s headquarters in Moscow did not respond when asked for a comment.