BP is planning to drill for fossil gas on edge of world’s largest cold-water coral reef

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy BP is planning to drill for fossil gas on the edge of the world’s largest cold-water coral reef – raising the risk of biodiversity loss, further global heating and toxic fuel spills. “We can’t excuse a company like BP, at a time when it seems to be taking climate change more seriously, simultaneously bankrolling a project that may end up having a big impact on Africa’s carbon footprint and future.” open image in gallery BP’s fossil gas development threatens an expansive cold-water coral reef off the coast of Mauritania and Senegal The Independent’s Stop Fuelling the Climate Crisis campaign is shining a light on UK support for fossil fuels ahead of Cop26, a major climate summit being held in Glasgow in November. “By adopting renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, African countries have the opportunity to leapfrog dirty energy to meet their energy security needs, with massive potential benefits for the population.” A BP spokesperson said: “We want to help conserve the marine ecosystem in Mauritania and Senegal and the project’s environment and social impact assessment was approved by the governments and regulators of both Mauritania and Senegal when the project was sanctioned for development.” The spokesperson added that BP was currently developing an additional biodiversity action plan for the project alongside “scientists and other stakeholders”. “We are working to set up an independent scientific panel of national and international scientists for peer review of our plans.” They added that emissions from the first phase of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project will be included in BP’s climate targets.