COPENHAGEN (DENMARK) – Four Greenpeace activists occupied an unmanned oil production facility of Total in the North Sea on Tuesday by swimming 500 metres. This prompted the French firm to stop production.
The activists scaled the Dan Bravo oil rig which is 210 kilometres west of Denmark to show their protest against oil and gas exploration in Danish territorial waters.
As a safety precaution the production of around 5,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day was put on hold for the time being, said the company.
Danish police said they are observing the situation and would intervene if the company requests them.
“We are peacefully occupying the Dan Bravo oil rig today to tell leaders that unless they are brave enough to ban the search for new oil and gas in Denmark, they will never be the green frontrunners they claim to be,” said activist Ida Marie.
Denmark aims to produce oil from the North Sea until 2050 when it expects to be carbon neutral.
The four activists swam from their vessel Rainbow Warrior to reach the rig.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field