鈥淚t鈥檚 important to know what resources Seychelles has鈥�
President Wavel Ramkalawan says fossil fuel exploration is not climate blackmail
It鈥檚 important for Seychelles to know whether or not it has fossil fuel reserves 鈥� and from there 鈥渨e will see where we go鈥�, the country鈥檚 President has said.
The country had signed a deal with a Canadian firm to explore the extent of oil reserves in the ocean near the island nation.
鈥淎frica is saying to the world 鈥榶es you want us to preserve the environment,鈥� said President Ramkalawan. 鈥淏ut at the same time the guy in west Africa will not die hungry under his rosewood tree to preserve it. At some point he will cut down that rosewood tree.鈥�
Seychelles is a small island nation off the coast of Kenya. Many of the low lying islands run the risk of being affected by climate change and rising sea levels.
However the country says it needs more help from the international community to adapt.
In an interview at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt in 2022, President Ramkalawan said Seychelles isn鈥檛 interested in pursuing oil exploitation but 鈥渦nless you have cards these days, you aren鈥檛 taken seriously鈥�.
