Ethiopia opens biding for oil, natural gas production in O'gaden

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Ethiopia opens biding for oil, natural gas production in ******

Comments (18)

(Addis Ababa) Ethiopia’s government expects seven foreign and domestic companies to bid for oil and natural gas concessions in the restive ****** basin previously held by Petronas Nasional Bhd, a government official said.

 

A tender for the concessions closes this week and the results are expected to be announced by early June, Ketsela Tadesse, head of petroleum licensing and administration in the Mines Ministry, said in an interview yesterday in Addis Ababa, the capital. One of the eight blocks on offer has proven gas deposits of 2.7 trillion cubic feet, according to Ketsela.

 

“We shortlisted the companies and they have taken bid documents,” Ketsela said. “After evaluation, the results will be disclosed. We hope to finish in two or three weeks.”

 

Petronas, based in Kuala Lumpur, sold the assets in October as part of what it said was a “rationalization exercise.” In May 2010, British geologist Jason Read, who was working for a subcontractor of the Malaysian company, was killed in an ambush in the region. The rebel ****** National Liberation Front, which has been fighting for self-determination in the area since 1984, denied responsibility for the attack.

 

In April 2007, the ONLF attacked an exploration site in the ****** operated by China’s Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau, killing nine Chinese workers and 65 Ethiopians.

 

Talks with Petronas about its exit were “amicable” and the state-owned company’s decision to leave Ethiopia had nothing to do with security concerns, Ketsela said.

 

‘No Problems’

“Companies are currently working in the area with no problems,” he said. “There is a good relationship between them and the local people.”

 

On May 13, a World Food Programme worker was shot dead in the ****** region in an attack the government blamed on the ONLF. One person was injured and two workers are still missing after the attack, Judith Schuler, WFP’s spokeswoman in Ethiopia, said by phone from the capital yesterday.

 

The ONLF said in an e-mailed statement yesterday that government security forces carried out the attack to cover up atrocities in the region.

 

“This is a government that has enshrined basic human rights in the constitution and has been working tirelessly to implement them in every part of the country,” Communications Minister Bereket Simon said by phone from Addis Ababa today. “So I don’t think these accusations from terrorists hold water.”

 

Companies currently prospecting for fossil fuels in Africa’s second-most populous nation include Afar Exploration Co., based in Oklahoma; Ontario-based Epsilon Energy Ltd.; Calgary-based Calvalley Petroleums Inc. (CVI/A); Denver-based Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (FOLGF); Texas-based Pexco Inc.; SouthWest Energy (H.K.) Ltd.; Vancouver-based Africa Oil Corp. (AOI); and London-registered Tullow Oil Inc., Ketsela said. Some of those companies are likely to submit bids for the former Petronas blocks, he said.

 

Hong Kong-based SouthWest had announced on Oct. 6 it had taken over the concessions before the government approved the deal. The tender is still “open” for the company, Ketsela said.

 

Source: Bloomberg

[The Zack]

Been there done that. The natural resources of our county shall not be used by the ethiopian regime. Remember what happened to the Chinese?

[Ibtisam]

Which ever company wins the bid, it will surely be suicide and a very risky business.

[The Zack]

Ibtr, true that. As a matter of fact 10 companies signed some kind of deals with Ethiopia in the last 4 years or so and guess what they all broke their agreements after they saw the situation on the ground. Pasteronas being the last one, they left few months ago after suffering being under attack multiple times.

[Ibtisam]

^^^All the better for Somalis who are being undermined.

[The Zack]

^Amen

[Leezu]

I hope they all get killed or break their deal with Aidstopia. When will the international community learn that the only way to produce oil from Soomaali Galbeed is to grant them independence? The urge for oil will soon become stronger and there will be Insha'Allah independence and freedom for the Soomaali Galbeed region and people.

May we be 5 independent states or 1 independent Somaliweyn whatever way atleast let the Somalis run their lands and be independent from highlanders and Jareers.

NFD, Somaliland, Somalia, Djibouti, Western Somalia or Greater Somalia, whatever fits the people.

[Bashiir]

Baatroolyahow fariinbaan buuga kuugu qorayaaa, warqad kuugu dirayaayee, intay boobayaashiyo Meles baratamayaan ha soo bixin ee iga joog! Markan calan bidhaan wacan badhtankana shangees ku leh, midabkuna buluug yahay, bahwadaaga soomaal balankey lahaayeen oo madax banaaniya badhtankaaga aan sudho, soo butaac sidii wabi, sida badaha soo buux...

 

Kobtan ka dhagayso heestii Badroolyahow...