Costa Rican president opposes oil exploitation
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009Costa Rican President Oscar Arias expressed his objection to the exploitation of oil in his country, and stressed Costa Rica was making great efforts to develop renewable energy, the local press said on Tuesday.
In an address to the congress on Monday, Arias said he was determined to fulfill a pledge not to allow oil exploitation in Costa Rica.
According to the website Nacion.com/el pais, Arias said his government was making efforts to develop solar and wind power, and geothermal energy.
“No oil exploitation is a decision I made long ago,” Arias said. “If I had been asked the same question three years ago, I would have given the same answer.”
Costa Rica is a net importer of oil.
In January, Roberto Dobles, the former Minister of Environment and Energy, said the country needed to exploit oil.
