Open letter from Armand Dagraça Tchitembo to the President of (…) – Gabonews

2023-09-26 13:01:37

Open letter from Armand Dagraça Tchitembo to the President of the Transition

September 26, 2023

Yet another open letter written by Armand Dagraça Tchitembo, addressed to the President of the Transition, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. In his capacity as Former Deputy Managing Director of Panafrican Energy and former Deputy Managing Director of Addax, Armand Dagraça Tchitembo submits some proposals related to oil activity in Gabon.

Excellency Mr President of the TRANSITION,

I have the distinct honor of coming, once again, to submit to your attention some proposals related to oil activity in our country.

In fact, a few months ago, Gabon came close to a disaster due to yet another incident seriously impacting our environmentfollowing the spill caused by a failure on a floating roof storage tank at the Cap-Lopez oil terminal.

Knowing that you are much better informed than the average Gabonese, I have no doubt that this extremely serious incident did not fail to attract your attention and worry you at the time when you were Commander-in-Chief of the GR..

It is with this interest that you show in the preservation of our living environment today that I would like to bring to your attention the following facts.

I would like to point out at the outset that the company which operates at the Cap Lopez terminal today, following the transfer of Total Gabon’s assets, is unfortunately accustomed to spills almost everywhere it operates, a French television station pointed this out in the past. .

Considering the lightness with which this company operates the facilities of the Cap Lopez terminal, we risk recording a larger incident which could result in a major environmental disaster.

Mr President of the Transition,

I would also like to remind you that the Shell Gabon company also transferred its assets to the Assala Company, and the latter also retained management of its terminal.

Why wouldn’t the Gabonese state have taken over the management of these two terminals, on the one hand? And why has the GOC not taken certain fields into production to increase its portfolio and its production, on the other hand?

The observation made on these different terminals establishes that they are operated by engineers, senior technicians and production operators all Gabonese, establishing that our compatriots have the necessary expertise for the Gabonese State to take over the management of these two terminals.

With production estimated at 6,600,000 barrels per month, if the Gabonese State taxes the storage in these terminals of this production at 1 dollar per barrel to exporting companies, this would bring our country $6,600,000 per month, or 3,630. 000,000 million CFA (three billion six hundred and thirty million CFA francs) even if we exaggerate by limiting the costs inherent to the operations to 1 million dollarswe can easily see our advantage.

Even if the contracts signed with the Gabonese State are, Establishment Agreements instead of CEEP, the Republic can negotiate like other operators, because since 1957, these majors have sufficiently exploited and made profitable these terminals which must return to Gabon, even if it means paying the price of their residual value.

Mr President of the Transition,

The revenue generated by the operation of our terminals by the State would contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the Gabonese, in particular by the construction of hospitals, schools, high schools and universities to international standards, all things that are reluctant to make these companies.

Concerning this pollution which has become recurrent and which is caused by all these oil companies, it is time to involve more effectively the environmental department, supported by independent experts, by providing them with sufficient means to make the principle truly operational. of the polluter paying.

To date, the ineffectiveness of our civil servants on these issues is dependent on their budgetary and logistical dependence on these companies when they go on control and audit missions.

Due to the fact that they are entirely supported by these companies that they control and audit, they set the control programs and rules, thus minimizing the findings and the effectiveness of the controllers. Greater autonomy of intervention would make controls more effective, and the offenses and fines that could result from them would replenish the treasury coffers.

The companies that exploit our soil and our subsoil seem to have broken the pact contained in CSR. Our forests and rivers are today dumping grounds for all kinds of waste. All the mining, forestry and oil operators operating in our country are slowly killing us because our now polluted soils are not treated to the required standards..

Having worked for a long time in the oil sector and knowing perfectly the practices of this sector, I draw your attention to these facts of aggravated pollution which are in contradiction with the protection of the environment, a strong axis of our life in society.

Mr President of the Transition,

It is high time to sound the alarm so that these practices stop. Regarding the oil sector, you could encourage the organization of a forum to review all the Establishment Agreements and all Exploitation and Production Sharing Contracts (CEPP).

Gabon, our dear country, deserves more than ever to make the most of its natural resources and particularly oil, a sector in which it now has proven expertise across all value chains.exploration, production, commercialisation.

Knowing that you are attached to the appropriation by the Gabonese of their economy, I have no doubt that you will be sensitive to these arguments which have the sole aim of giving our country the best chances of development..

In this perspective, please accept, Excellency Mr. President of the Transition, the expression of my deep respect and my eternal devotion.

Armand DAGRAÇA TCHITEMBO