U.S.: World must protect offshore sector

MEXICO CITY, April 4 (UPI) -- The international community has a collective responsibility to ensure natural resources are developed safely and responsibly, the U.S. energy secretary said.

U.S. Energy Secretary Ken Salazar was in Mexico Monday to discuss energy policy with Latin American officials.

Salazar said players in the offshore energy sector have a collective responsibility to make sure work in sensitive waters is carried out safely.

"Just as we share oceans with our neighbors, we have an interest in sharing best practices for how all of us can develop our resources safely and responsibly," he said in a statement.

Salazar announced last week in Brazil that Washington was planning an April 14 conference to discuss offshore drilling containment.

His announcement followed a decision by Australian company BHP Billiton to join the non-profit Marine Well Containment Co. The MWCC was set up to respond to future disasters such as the incident at BP's Deepwater Horizon oil platform in April 2010.

"While we don't expect to ever have to use the (containment) equipment, we believe it is our responsibility to be prepared," said J. Michael Yeager, chief executive of BHP Billiton Petroleum, in a statement.