Russia hits massive JACKPOT, bad news for Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, this discovery may cause a new…
Russia's crude oil discovery may have revealed a hidden treasure but exploring it can devastate the planet.
By Anirudha Yerunkar Edited by Anirudha Yerunkar
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Russia has reportedly found the world's largest crude oil reserve beneath the British Antarctic Territory, a region long protected under international treaty. It is estimated to be 511 billion barrels of crude oil, and is being described as an 'ocean of oil' buried under the icy continent.
Russia's Oil Discovery
The discovery was made by Rosgeo, a Russian state-owned geological research company, during a scientific survey in the Weddell Sea region. According to reports, the estimated oil reserves are larger than the total amount of oil ever extracted from Earth to date.
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Though Russia claims the survey was purely scientific in nature, experts suggest it could be a strategic move to exploit Antarctica's natural resources.
What's Antarctic Treaty?
The 1959 Antarctic Treaty prohibits all military and commercial activities in the region, especially resource extraction. So far, over 56 countries including Russia have signed the treaty, which has helped preserve Antarctica for peaceful and scientific use.
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However, this oil discovery has raised alarm bells. Media reports claim that when the world begins to face severe shortages of natural resources, countries might start competing for control over the Antarctic's energy reserves.
The British Antarctic Territory is also claimed by Chile and Argentina, both of whom have now shown interest in the region after the discovery. This can hamper the spirit of international cooperation in Antarctica and add geopolitical tensions.
Can This End Saudi Arabia's Oil Dominance?
With a reserve of over 511 billion barrels, the Antarctic oil deposit if ever tapped can surpass Saudi Arabia's current oil resources and reshape global energy dominance. This has raised concern that nations may eventually ignore treaties and race to claim a piece of this massive resource.
Experts fear that if the global community fails to uphold the Antarctic Treaty, the continent could become the next battleground for energy supremacy. While the discovery may give a potential boost to global energy security, it also increases risk to Earth's environmental stability.
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