Who will own antarctic resources?
Alexei Chickein, RIA Novosti, Moscow
Warsaw hosted a consultative conference on the Antarctic treaty during the last few days. It involved the delegations of 27 countries, which had signed this treaty, and which implement research projects on the Sixth Continent.
The ice-rich Antarctic can be compared to a vast refrigerator packed full with all kinds of products, which are sorely needed by the global economy. Top-quality bituminous-coal deposits were discovered in Victoria Land and in the Beardmore-glacier valley (the Trans-Antarctic mountain range) in the early 20th century. Other coal deposits were found in other parts of the Sixth Continent. The United States, Canadian and Argentinean geologists estimate that the Antarctic boasts more coal than all continents taken together.
The Antarctic also contains a lot of iron ores. Soviet geologists had discovered top-quality garnet and titanium- magnetite ores in the central sector of the Queen Maud Land mountain range. Researchers found thick sedimentation layers replete with iron-ore seams over a 10,000-sq.-kilometer area on Mac-Robertson Land.
The ice-bound Antarctic coast conceals yet another 120-km iron-ore deposit. That same area also boasts a big iron-ore province. Iron ore deposits with 25 percent to 35 percent iron content have been found on Victoria Land, as well; incidentally, their iron content is unique in itself. Copper ores have been discovered on Victoria Land and Adelie Land, too.
Some local areas boast well-nigh the same structures as similar structures of Venezuelan oil-bearing provinces. Therefore quite a few geologists believe that western Antarctic may contain substantial oil deposits (highly viscous oil, for the most part).
This is particularly true of the Pacific sector, which is now virtually controlled by Australia, France and New Zealand, as well as an area between the adjacent Weddell Sea and Ross Sea. Total regional oil deposits are estimated at 15 billion tons. Oil traces have recently been found along the continental shelf near the Falklands archipelago and the nearby South Georgia island.
Moreover, huge icebergs could eventually be towed to some drought-stricken regions of the world. The Sixth Continent contains plenty of water, its main natural resource. Local frozen water accounts for over 70 percent of this planet's entire fresh- water supply.
The development of local resources is being hindered by lack of international documents and by the adverse environment. Moreover, the Antarctic is located too far away from main economic and trade centers. However, the international community has already amassed ample experience of developing similar regions, such as Norway's Spitzbergen archipelago. According to the 1925 international treaty, all signatory countries enjoy equal economic rights there. However, Norway and Russia alone exercise such rights to date.
Judging by foreign-press articles, the Antarctic will have to be divided into specific national sectors. Some neighboring countries now proclaim many local resource-rich territories as their own; and this process will accelerate. It would be quite advantageous to stake one's claim on Antarctic mineral deposits, which still belong to no one.
Russia has always believed that it boasts greater economic- activity rights in the Antarctic because this continent was discovered by Russian explorers Bellinsgauzen and Lazarev. About 50 countries have now inked documents concerning research activity on the Sixth Continent and in adjacent water areas.
The raw-materials rush is already sweeping the Sixth Continent. However, those wishing to lay their hands on local resources will hardly heed Russian interests.