Christ Church Cathedral on Ross Road in Stanley, on the Falkland Islands, where hopes are high for an oil industry. Photo: Bloomberg

Stanley:The Falkland Islands are not an easy place to reach. Flights come only weekly. Cruise ships making the trip brave frigid seas, freezing nights and recently, harassment from Argentine dockworkers.

When cruisers drop anchor outside Stanley Harbour, if the water is too choppy, the tenders from the ships cant bring passengers ashore. Passengers then see the barren hills of the island only through their cabin windows.

This may change if oil exploration in the undersea waters around the islands develops into an industry. Not only could a port be built to allow tourists to disembark in any weather, but more goods could come to the islands, ending the frequent shortages.

Oil companies are funding the construction of a temporary dock to accommodate exploration of oil and gas in the Falklands' waters. Photo: Chris Zappone

Everything, in fact, would change for these windswept islands, including the calculus around the Falklands' self-determination.

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It really is about long-term economic security, explains Stephen Luxton, the director of mineral resources for the Falkland Islands government, who boasts a family history on the islands going back 150 years. Its about ensuring we can carry on looking after the interests of the Falklands and being self-sufficient and maintaining our self government . . . which is very important to us.

While the people of the Falklands welcome the progress that could come with oil, Argentina, which invaded the islands 32 years ago this month, is less than enthused. The South American nation has cranked up diplomatic pressure on the Falklands, focusing not just on the British, who handle the territory's defence and foreign policy, but on any companies doing oil business with the islands.

'Operatic': Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has ramped up pressure for the Falklands to be recognised as Argentinian territory. Photo: AP

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Oil race fuels new Falklands chapter