![\"Javier](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2263770682.jpg\")
\t\tMilei said the oil field is a “clear danger” (Tomas Cuesta\/Getty Images)\t<\/p>\n\t\t\tFriday 04 September 2026 10:51 am\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tMilei said the oil field is a “clear danger” (Tomas Cuesta\/Getty Images)\t<\/p>\n
Rockhopper, an London-listed oil exploration firm, is battling to slow an investor sell-off after Argentina\u2019s president vowed to sanction any oil companies working near the Falkland Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a national address, Javier Milei<\/a> emphasised Argentina\u2019s claim over the British territory and promised to sanction any oil companies working there as part of the \u201cBritish occupation\u201d.<\/p>\n Shares in Rockhopper, which is working with partner Navitas on the Sea Lion oil field north of the Falklands, fell more than 10 per cent to 69p in early trading.<\/p>\n Milei singled out the Sea Lion oil project, describing it as a \u201cclear and present danger\u201d to Argentina\u2019s claim to the islands.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf we do not act swiftly in a few months, they will have the material capacity to access the oil that lies underneath our sea. Something that has never happened before,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Rockhopper and Navitas rushed to soothe investor fears, insisting that they do not expect Argentina\u2019s threats to have a \u201cmaterial effect\u201d on their delivery of oil<\/a> from the area.<\/p>\n The oil firms said: \u201cThe partnership operates pursuant to valid petroleum licenses lawfully granted to it by the Government of the Falkland Islands, a self-governing UK Overseas Territory, and with the full and ongoing support of the UK Government.<\/p>\n \u201cThe partnership believes that the recent developments are not expected to have a material effect on the development activities of the Sea Lion Project, including the timetable for completion of the Project\u2019s development.\u201d<\/p>\n Rockhopper, which is based in Salisbury, has said it expects to start delivering oil from the Sea Lion project at the start of 2028. It has contributed $350m (\u00a3259m) in debt to the project and owns 35 per cent of the venture.\u00a0<\/p>\n Miliband: UK claim to Falklands \u2018unwavering\u2019<\/p>\n Milei\u2019s hotly-anticipated address has ramped up tensions between Argentina and the UK, whose control over the territory was last threatened during the 1982 Falklands War.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n