Chinese-built Scarabeo 9 rig arrives in Cuban waters

The Chinese-built Scarabeo 9 rig has arrived in the Florida Strait and is set to begin E&P operations for several companies in the area.

Despite having some small deposits, Cuba, is at present reliant, on heavily subsidised imports from its ally, Venezuela, for most of its energy needs. This new rig, to initially be operated by the Spanish Company Repsol YPF, could provide enough oil to turn Cuba into a net exporter and provide a much-needed boost to the island’s economy.

However, there are worries over the project, particularly in the US. The 2010 accident at the BP owned Deepwater Horizon rig saw millions of barrels of oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico.

The difficulty of dealing with an environmental incident on the Scarabeo 9 is heightened by the US-imposed trade embargo against Communist Cuba. The embargo would severely restrict the abilities of any US government agencies or even private companies in dealing with the crisis. The irony is, that were an accident to occur at the Scarabeo 9, the local sea currents mean that any spill would likely head towards the Florida coast and not towards Cuba.

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