Protest rally against drilling in Ionian Sea

The Corfu Environmental Protection Association is organising a rally against hydrocarbon exploration in the Ionian Sea on Monday, 5 October, at 10am, outside the Old Prefecture building.

The choice of location and timing is directly linked to the emergency meeting of the Ionian Islands Regional Council, scheduled for the same time, to issue an opinion on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Asopos-1 exploratory well in Block 2 of the north-western Ionian Sea.

“We cannot and must not remain spectators. The climate crisis requires a shift towards clean forms of energy, not new destructive drilling operations in our seas,” the Association says in its call.

The mobilisation comes as the public consultation on the Environmental Impact Assessment has already been completed and the environmental licensing process is under way. The Ionian Islands Regional Authority itself cited the conclusion of the consultation and the “immediate advancement” of the procedures by the Ministry of Environment and Energy as the reason for the emergency nature of the meeting.

Meanwhile, opposition in Corfu has broadened. The Coordinating Committee of the Presidents of the Communities of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands has unanimously opposed the drilling, while associations on Othoni and Mathraki have also expressed their opposition.

The issue has now also reached the local government bodies. Repeated calls have been made for Block 2 to be discussed by the Central Corfu Municipal Council, while on Monday the Regional Council is being asked, for the first time, to formally record the position of the Ionian Islands Regional Authority.

The planned exploratory well is located approximately 23 nautical miles from Othoni, with operations scheduled for spring 2027, provided that the required permits are obtained beforehand.

GIORGOS KATSAITIS