Somali PM ‘unaware’ of Chinese oil deal

[Eri-Prince]

See this is what I was talking about a couple days ago...CRUSED by the black gold. May visionary leaders give peace a chance over Somalia.


Somali PM ‘unaware’ of Chinese oil deal


By Barney Jopson in Nairobi


Published: July 16 2007 18:36 | Last updated: July 16 2007 18:36


Somalia’s interim prime minister has sought to distance himself from a
decision to grant oil exploration rights to *CNOOC
indicating that the Chinese state oil giant may have become entangled in
an internal power struggle within the interim government.


CNOOC and a smaller group, China International Oil and Gas, are planning
to begin survey work in the Puntland province later this year – the
latest example of China’s willingness to brave Africa’s most volatile
regions in search of natural resources.


But Ali Mohamed Gedi, prime minister, told the Financial Times he had
not seen the agreement granting the Chinese groups exploration rights.
“I’m not aware of this. I don’t know anything about it,” he said in an
interview in Nairobi.


He added that no valid deals could be struck until the country’s interim
parliament had endorsed a new oil law due to be published in the next
two months.


The FT, however, has seen a document signed by president Abdullahi Yusuf
Ahmed, who is from Puntland, that granted two Somali officials power of
attorney to sign a production-sharing agreement with CNOOC Africa and
CIOG in Beijing on May 24 last year. At the time, the transitional
government had little authority outside its base in Baidoa.


Last month Somalia’s energy minister met with the heads of CNOOC Africa
and CIOG in Nairobi to hammer out the details of their planned survey work.


One western diplomat who follows Somalia said it would be no surprise to
find the president and prime minister working independently of each
other. “They don’t really get on. They’re from different clans,” he
said. “They have differences and divergences, but they tolerate each other.”


CNOOC in Beijing last week declined to comment on any aspect of the deal
over exploration rights.


Mr Gedi on Monday emphasised the importance of putting a national oil
law in place. “There are many companies interested in exploring oil and
gas in Somalia, but in order to protect the wealth of the country and
the interests of the Somali people, we cannot operate without a
regulatory body, without rules and regulations,” he said.


He was aware of “informal contacts” between his government and oil
companies, including Chinese groups and some of the western oil groups
that held exploration concessions in the 1980s.


Asked how oil groups would feel about one of their rivals striking a
deal ahead of the oil law, he said: “Life is up and down. Today yes,
tomorrow no. Tomorrow yes, the day after, no. But I believe those who
are interested in the oil business in Somalia will be received after the
petrol law is endorsed by parliament.”


These groups left the country after dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was
overthrown during civil war in 1991.


According to the US Energy Information Administration, Somalia has no
proven oil reserves and only 200bn cubic feet of proven natural gas
reserves, which have not been tapped.


But Range Resources, an oil group listed in Sydney, estimates that the
Puntland province has the potential to yield 5bn-10bn barrels of oil.

[neocon_2007]

OLD NEWS

[MJ-Pride]

Geedi doesnt know anything about this Government. Its us that are doing most of these Secret deals. Donkey Geedi needs to put up and followe his masters

[The-Screw]

Shakespeare baa dhahey "There is no honor among thieves" they're going behind each other's back trying to get rich.