OGRepublic August Edition

AFRICAN ENERGY STORIES
H.E. Gabriel Obiang Lima, Equatorial Guinea Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons (MMH)
Equatorial Guinea Issues a Mandate for Oil and Gas
Worker Vaccinations
In a bid to ensure the protection of
oil and gas industry workers, as well
as increase operations and
production across the sector, the
Government of Equatorial Guinea is
driving an effective vaccination rollout for
all hydrocarbon workers in Equatorial
Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea is leading the way in
maintaining prevention measures and
ensuring operational safety within the oil
and gas sector with the Minister of Mines
and Hydrocarbons (MMH), H.E. Gabriel
Mbaga Obiang Lima, issuing a mandate
during a virtual meeting this month for all
oil and gas workers to be vaccinated
against the coronavirus. The mandate has
been enforced in order to drive the
country’s vaccination rollout program,
ensuring increased operations and
production across the hydrocarbons sector
while safeguarding workers against the
virus.
H.E. Gabriel Obiang Lima remains
committed to expanding the country’s oil
and gas sector while at the same time
mitigating the spread of the virus. By
requiring all oil and gas workers, including
both national and expatriate employees to
be vaccinated, the MMH is paving the way
for other industries to put the safety of
their workers first.
“It is forbidden for unvaccinated
individuals to work on onshore or offshore
facilities. They are public servants and
must be protected,” stated H.E. Gabriel
Obiang Lima in the virtual meeting.
Despite experiencing relatively low COVID-19
cases compared to other African countries,
Equatorial Guinea’s oil and gas sector suffered
significant impacts from the pandemic
throughout 2020 and into 2021.
With Equatorial Guinea prioritizing its
vaccination rollout program – the country has
received a shipment of 500,000 Sinopharm
vaccines from China at the end of June 2021
with more expected to follow – the oil and gas
sector is driving progress.
Additionally, in the virtual meeting, the MMH
and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
have requested an increase in the number of
weekly flights to Equatorial Guinea, specifically
for the oil and gas sector.
Requested through the Political Committee of
Surveillance Against COVID-19, the MMH is
focused on boosting oil and gas productivity
while maintaining the safety of employees. By
working with the Committee, and driving their
own vaccination rollout program, the MMH is
making significant progress in positioning the
country as an African vaccination leader.
“Equatorial Guinea has taken the right steps in
driving oil and gas productivity by ensuring that
the oil and gas sector is both a safe and
productive working environment for all oil and
gas employees. Africa’s oil and gas sector can
lead the way in the continent’s vaccination
rollout and we are thankful to the government’s
covid committee and other Ministries within
Equatorial Guinea,” concluded H.E. Gabriel
Obiang Lima.
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is located in
Central Africa. The country consists of an insular
region, made up of several islands, and a
mainland region named after the Río Muni. The
mainland region is bordered by Cameroon to
the north, and Gabon to the south and east. On
the west, the Río Muni region overlooks the
Gulf of Guinea. Equatorial Guinea covers an
area of around 28,000 square kilometres and is
inhibited by approximately 1.360 million
residents.
The capital city is Malabo, which has a
population of 297,000 persons, while the seat
of government is in Oyala. The country’s
currency is the CFA franc, a currency used by
five other countries in Africa, including OPEC
Member Country Gabon. The official language
of Equatorial Guinea is Spanish. French and
Portuguese are widely used, too.
While the African nation is a producer and net
exporter of crude oil, it is also a key producer
and exporter of natural gas. In former times,
Equatorial Guinea exported coffee, timber and
cocoa.
Equatorial Guinea expects foreign direct
investment in 2021 could reach $1.11 billion,
according to the energy ministry, while
production is expected to increase.
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OIL AND GAS REPUBLIC I SPECIAL EDITION