Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources Zaha Waheed has dismissed comments by the previous administration that oil was discovered in Maldives.
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, Fisheries Minister Zaha Waheed stated during the 80s, several parties tried to discover oil in Maldives without any result, adding the latest attempts were unsuccessful as well. She noted it is impossible to discover oil in Maldives. Moreover, the fisheries minister upheld the sentiments of the administration by affirming no attempt will be conducted that will affect the environment.
While Zaha, who served in the fisheries ministry for a long period of time has revealed it is impossible to extract oil in Maldives, the previous administration conducted several surveys in an attempt to discover oil. Furthermore, responding to comments made by former Fisheries Minister Dr. Mohamed Shainee that oil has been discovered and extraction was temporary halted due to global oil prices, Zaha reiterated extraction of oil is impossible in Maldives.
However, the former administration revealed it found evidence of existence of oil in Maldives.