Lundin Oil defends presence

A key board member of the Swedish oil company Lundin Oil defended his seat despite fierce international criticism of the company’s exploration activities in Sudan. Sweden’s former prime minister Carl Bildt, who is a member of parliament, said he was “convinced that the foreign presence and not least the oil are possibilities for peace and development in Sudan in the long term.” He made the comments in an open letter to the Swedish press, Reuters news agency said on 20 March. Bildt is also a United Nations envoy to the Balkans. Complaints by humanitarian agencies regarding the presence of foreign oil companies in southern Sudan resulted in criticism of Bildt’s position by Swedish newspaper editorials. He said in the open letter that he expected his UN position to be “gradually phased out.”
Lundin Oil shares rose on Tuesday as a result of his comments. International critics, including the NGO Christian Aid, have criticised Lundin Oil for participating in well drillings in war-affected southern Sudan. Christian Aid said the government had a brutal strategy of displacement around the oil fields - an accusation the government denied.