Page 10 - AfrOil Week 50 2021

AfrOil PERFORMANCE AfrOil

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timi- refineries are not functioning. Unions will not
pre Sylva thereforesought to quell the discontent let you [fire anyone]. Those are the real issues. A
about ongoing spending, saying that NNPC had few days ago, [NNPC managing director Mele
to continue paying salaries despite not produc- Kyari] just threatened to lay off some contract
ing any fuel from the facilities. staff in Kaduna refinery, which has not func-
“We have a situation now of a refinery that tioned for three years, and the unions wrote to
has not functioned for three years, yet it’s paying me that they heard that their members were to
salaries. Every [member of] staff is being paid. be sacked and gave threats.”
The refineries haven’t worked for three years. He added: “The unions and their members
We have carried on paying salaries. Nobody can were the ones managing the refineries. Yes, I
sack anybody,” he said. know government is to blame. I am not absolv-
The minister noted that the blame for the ing government completely, but they themselves
current situation should be shared among stake- are part of the blame game. They were managing
holders. “People are getting promoted, but the it.” ™

POLICY
Ghana, Guyana to co-operate on petroleum

production and investment promotion

GHANA GHANA and Guyana have signed a framework
agreement which includes a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) on co-operation in the
petroleum sector and another MoU in invest-
ment promotion.
The co-operation deal aims to deepen the
partnership between the West African and
South American countries. This comes follow- bilateral trade and investment.
ing a three-day state visit to Guyana by Ghana- President Irfaan Ali of Guyana pledged his
ian Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. country’s commitment to strategic engagement
Under the MoU, the Petroleum Commission and partnership with Ghana and expressed opti-
of Ghana will share its expertise and resources mism with the progress made so far.
with Guyana to help it develop the capacity “We are very excited about this strategic
to manage its own hydrocarbon sector.” The partnership; it is receiving attention from the
commission is also expected to help Guyana highest levels of government. On the sidelines
establish future partnership opportunities with of the recent UN General Assembly meeting,
Ghana to enhance continued co-operation. we held bilateral meetings with Ghana’s pres-
Under the second MoU, the Ghana Invest- ident, His Excellency Nana Akufo Addo, and
ment Promotion Centre (GIPC) would collabo- within weeks, a timetable to design and achieve
rate with Guyana’s Office for Investment in order a framework for strategic co-operation was in
to create an enabling environment to promote place,” Ali said. ™

Shell back in South African courts this

week to defend offshore exploration

SOUTH AFRICA ENERGY giant Royal Dutch Shell is due back in application to stop Shell’s seismic survey from
court this week to defend its controversial plans taking place alongside the pristine Wild Coast.
for exploration off the east coast of South Africa. The urgent matter has been set down for
The new urgent court hearing will be heard hearing in the Makhanda High Court on Friday,
on Friday, after environmentalists lodge a new December 17.

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 50 15•December•2021