New investor in Lake Malawi Oil exploration
At a time when the debate on Lake Malawi oil exploration was
seemingly dying down government has engaged a new company Hamra Oil Holdings
Limited (HOHL) from United Arab Emirates to do the work replacing Surestream
from the United Kingdom.
During the week government officials and those from the
company have been courting stakeholders in the lake districts of Karonga,
Nkhatabay and Nkhotakota among others informing them on the new development.
Deputy Director in the Ministry of Energy and Mines Peter
Chilumanga said in an emailed questionnaire that Hamra bought 51 percent of
business shares from Surestream following negotiations which started in March
this year.
“From the look of things Hamra is a major shareholder so
that is how it comes in the picture,” Chilumanga said.
According to Chilumanga Surestream was given an exploration
license by government which technically means Hamra Holdings are mandated to
carry out the exploration work being a major shareholder.
“Surestream participated in application for exploration
licenses for Blocks 2 and 3 to government and emerged then as the best
technically to undertake the exploration and was thus granted a go ahead by
government to undertake oil exploration as a first stage. They conducted an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and are now a position to plan for that
aerial exploration program,” Chilumanga explained.
During a meeting in Karonga stakeholders were informed that
the exploration work which will commence soon will involve use of planes which
will be flying at low altitude levels and will last for six months.
Social Commentator Kossam Munthali however cautioned
government and the new investor to tread carefully on the matter because of the
ongoing lake row between Malawi and Tanzania.
In response Chilumanga said that the lake wrangle is the
responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take care of but however
said the company has a license for exploration and cannot stay idle till the
issue is sorted out between the two countries.
Chairperson for Karonga Business Community (KBC) Wavisanga
Silungwe also said there is need to be a well-defined Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between the investor and the communities to ensure that
there is economic benefit for the locals.
“Karonga and other districts have different social concerns
that are stipulated in District Development Plans and investors like these
should help in fulfilling them because the lake is for the development of this
country and we expect a win- win situation,” Silungwe explained.
On the concern Chilumanga said the issue of an MOU with
communities does not arise at the exploration stage because it has not yet been
established if there is oil in the lake and that production is possible.
During a meeting with Surestream last year Paramount Chief
Kyungu asked the investors to consider sponsoring two or three Malawians to
study Marine subjects abroad so that they would be able to relay proper
information to locals when the exploration work begins.
“It is better to have local expatriates because of the
passion they would have for their lake, saying they would be transparent in
disseminating information to local people as compared to foreigners who might
be protecting their business interests at the expense of our local marine
resources.” Kyungu said.
When called for comment officials from Hamra holdings
referred this writer to their media coordinator Rex Chikoko who said they are in
the process of arranging meetings where the media will be furnished with proper
information on the matter.
END
