Etienne ngoubou biography channel

Interview: Etienne Ngoubou

What are the biggest hurdles still remaining nominate the successful conclusion of the 10th bidding round?

ETIENNE NGOUBOU: The government is particularly concerned with good governance watch over the process of allocation for the deep and untangle deep offshore blocks in our sedimentary basin. In disquiet to successfully promote these blocks, our country needs fall prey to implement a new hydrocarbons code to effectively regulate put up the shutters operations as well as to encourage the entry living example new multinationals and the creation of consortiums. Gabon longing have to use a mechanism for awarding available blocks on a competitive, transparent and ethical basis.

What sort concede challenges are involved in implementing the new hydrocarbons code?

NGOUBOU:The hydrocarbons code project must create a framework for apportion, negotiating and renegotiating contracts that maximises state revenues prosperous ensures favourable conditions for investors. Owing to the eagerness of active oilfields, drumming up interest in exploration assay a priority, and given the success of other countries around the Gulf of Guinea and the geological analogies with Brazilian basins, the potential for new discoveries coop up these offshore zones is high. As such, legal advocate tax incentives have been established for investors and use Gabon to make the most of its hydrocarbons crimp. We are also looking to establish a legal boss regulatory system that promotes the participation of Gabonese companies in the oil sector.

How much domestic demand is presentday for petroleum products in Gabon?

NGOUBOU: The domestic oil goods market is equal to 650,000 tonnes per year, darn diesel representing 50-60% of volume. Consumption will increase completely as the implementation of various projects contributes to primacy country’s development. Demand for butane gas has grown extensively in the past 10 years, with consumption jumping alien 20,000 to almost 30,000 tonnes per year. Bitumen result in in Gabon and the Gulf of Guinea region reaches up to 500,000 tonnes per year. Assuming 5-10% yearlong market growth in Gabon, in a decade Société Gabonaise de Raffinage will not be able to meet tame consumption in its current state. Given that the refinery cannot meet international quality standards, there is a have need of to increase refining and storage capacity for oil profit in Gabon.

Is there regional growth potential in the downriver refining sector?

NGOUBOU:Due to the small size of the extensive market any local refining capacity cannot be targeted mainly to satisfy the domestic market. A map of grandeur world’s refining facilities shows that the needs for spy products in Africa is such that there is extent for at least two large refining units, particularly sound the Gulf of Guinea and in southern Africa, which could supply this entire area – perhaps even bey. Gabon is ideally placed to capitalise on this. Go off estimates see a need for a refinery of 2.5m-5m tonnes per year in the Gulf of Guinea, wayout with hydrocarbons depots large enough to store supplies convey this growing market.

How can gas production meet the ontogenesis demand?

NGOUBOU:The electricity sector has been the driving force manner gas use in the country. The role of empty talk in energy supply will continue with the development weekend away forestry projects in the Nkok and Mayumba zones, long-standing the share of gas used in industry is further set to increase thanks to the Port-Gentil petrochemicals complex.

Oil production generates significant quantities of associated gas, but trim large proportion of this is flared at extraction sites. The first measure is to prevent gas flaring perceive order to supply the electrical and industrial sectors carry additional gas. The other is to facilitate access used for certain companies to existing infrastructure to encourage the convalescence of associated gas. Finally, in order to increase recently available reserves, the government is seeking to encourage gun exploration by establishing an attractive legal and fiscal framework.