https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0QcLyQ2PgN4<\/a>).<\/p>\nA senior Corporate Governance Analyst from Folksam who was also on the trip stated:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe investor trip gave us a good understanding of the challenges that face Africa Oil in Kenya and Ethiopia. We are glad to see that Africa Oil works in close connection with the local communities. Africa Oil show that they are determined to make the oil a blessing and not a curse for the local communities and they are also sensitive that the impact of company’s presence and the finding of oil in the countries could be substantial\u201d.<\/p>\n
Much of the recent media interest has focused around our non-operated interests in what is known as Block 8 in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia in which we have a 30% share. A private UK based oil company, NewAge, are the operators of this block.<\/p>\n
Some media reports have linked our presence in this block to the on-going conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a pro-independence movement in Eastern Ethiopia.<\/p>\n
This conflict has been going on for decades and passed through various periods of intense fighting followed by peace talks. There is no doubting that this conflict, as with many others occurring in Africa, is a tragedy for those directly involved. But again as with other African internal conflicts, the reality on the ground is often far more complicated than some media reports would like to admit. One of the best independent reports on both the history and recent developments in the conflict is the one the reputable International Crisis Group wrote that in August 2013 (http:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/~\/media\/Files\/africa\/horn-of-africa\/ethiopia-eritrea\/207-ethiopia-prospects-for-peace-in-ogaden.pdf).<\/p>\n
What is most salient from our company\u2019s perspective is that the conflict takes place hundreds of kilometers from our activities in Block 8, which is an area that is geographically and tribal distinct from the often referred to \u2018Ogaden\u2019. Appendix A of the report shows the extent of the conflict area in the Somali Regional State. When compared with our own area of operation (http:\/\/www.africaoilcorp.com\/s\/project-maps.asp)it can be seen that the two do not overlap. In fact the nearest violent incident reported by any group (government, ONLF, NGO) was over 259km from our location. In the seven years that we have been active in this area there have been no violent incidents associated with our presence, nor is there any evidence that Ethiopian security forces have committed abuses on or forcibly resettled any civilians in our areas of operation. On the contrary, our community related projects and employment opportunities in the area are welcomed and appreciated by the local population.<\/p>\n
Accusations have also been laid against us that by operating in Ethiopia as a whole, and therefore being provided with armed security by the Ethiopian government, we are somehow complicit in the conflict.<\/p>\n
In virtually all African countries, extractive companies who are there conducting legal business, are required to use security provided by the national governments should it be needed. This happens in our operations in Ethiopia as it does in Kenya, and does for other companies in places like Libya, Nigeria and Tanzania. It is unreasonable to suggest that all of these companies are therefore somehow accountable for every action undertaken by state security forces outside of their sphere of influence. Many Western governments, NGO\u2019s and the United Nations also rely on security provided by these governments to be able to conduct their business safely and securely.<\/p>\n
In Ethiopia we use no private, armed security forces. In places where armed security is needed there is a requirement that this is provided by the Ethiopian government. Given the isolated nature of the drill site in Block 8, and its proximity to the insecure Ethiopian\/Somalia border and therefore the potential threat from militant activity\/terrorism from within Somalia by organizations like Al Shabaab, our partner NewAge Africa has Ethiopian soldiers stationed there. In our other operational blocks in Ethiopia such as the Rift Valley Area or South Omo Block, we need and therefore use minimal armed security, which tends to be Ethiopian police rather than soldiers.<\/p>\n
In addition we believe strongly that the responsible, sustainable and transparent\u2028 development of natural resources can lead to positive economic and social\u2028 development for countries and their citizens. In all of the countries in\u2028 which we operate, including Ethiopia, we offer much needed employment, access to contracts for goods & services and community development\u2028 projects such as clean water, safe & reliable energy and health and\u2028 educational facilities.<\/p>\n
Keith C Hill<\/p>\n
President & CEO Africa Oil Corp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Africa Oil Statement on Ethiopia Following recent media focus on Africa Oil\u2019s presence in Ethiopia, the company would like to make the following statement to clarify the actual situation on … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7,11],"tags":[63,70,112,287,809,1722,1822,1825,2164,2351,2352,2381],"class_list":["post-1386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oil-politics","category-top-news","tag-africa","tag-africa-oil","tag-al-shabaab","tag-block-8","tag-ethiopia","tag-new-age","tag-ogaden","tag-ogaden-national-liberation-front","tag-rift-valley-area","tag-somali-regional-state-of-ethiopia","tag-somalia","tag-south-omo-block","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/block-8-ethiopia.png?fit=331%2C287&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5JWkQ-mm","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5850,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/ethiopia-oil-and-gas-sector-overview\/","url_meta":{"origin":1386,"position":0},"title":"Ethiopia Oil and Gas Sector Overview","author":"","date":"April 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Ethiopia sedimentary basins are located between old and new discovery areas in the Middle East (Yemen), the East Africa Rift System (Kenya),the Melut and Muglad basins (Sudan and South Sudan). Sedimentary basins cover more than 30 percent of the entire country and the known basins include: Ogaden basin, The Abay\/Blue\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Top News"","block_context":{"text":"Top News","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/top-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Petroleum-Concession-Map-Ethiopia.png?fit=613%2C465&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Petroleum-Concession-Map-Ethiopia.png?fit=613%2C465&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Petroleum-Concession-Map-Ethiopia.png?fit=613%2C465&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12685,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/ethiopia-poly-gcl-kicked-out-of-ogaden-basin\/","url_meta":{"origin":1386,"position":1},"title":"ETHIOPIA: POLY-GCL Kicked Out of Ogaden Basin","author":"","date":"September 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Chinese explorer POLY-GCL has had its operations licence in Ethiopia's Ogaden basin canceled according to Ethiopia\u2019s Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Takele Uma. This follows the company's failure to meet a list of conditions set out by the Ministry in March in which the government warned lack of compliance would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Countries"","block_context":{"text":"Countries","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/countries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Ethiopia-Asset-Map.png?fit=984%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Ethiopia-Asset-Map.png?fit=984%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Ethiopia-Asset-Map.png?fit=984%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Ethiopia-Asset-Map.png?fit=984%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":575,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/humanitarian-crisis-for-ogaden-living-near-ethiopias-oil-fields\/","url_meta":{"origin":1386,"position":2},"title":"\u2018Humanitarian Crisis\u2019 for Ogaden Living Near Ethiopia\u2019s Oil Fields","author":"Samuel Kamau Mbote","date":"February 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"[twitter-follow screen_name='oilnewskenya'] Story by Inter Press Service News Agency New allegations of scorched earth evictions of the Ogaden people have raised concerns that a lack of benefit sharing could escalate instability in the region and reinforce separatist tensions as foreign energy companies prepare to extract oil and gas from troubled\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News by others"","block_context":{"text":"News by others","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/news-by-others\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/ethiopia460x276.jpg?fit=460%2C276&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":184,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/tullow-oil-to-conduct-well-testing\/","url_meta":{"origin":1386,"position":3},"title":"Tullow Oil to conduct well testing in Ethiopia","author":"Samuel Kamau Mbote","date":"December 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Story by\u00a0KALEYESUS BEKELE - The British Oil company that is prospecting for oil in South Omo basin in South Ethiopia, Tullow Oil, is to conduct well testing in the second oil exploration well named Tultule-1. Tullow Oil started drilling Tultule1 last September. Reliable sources told The Reporter that the drilling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News by others"","block_context":{"text":"News by others","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/news-by-others\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/tullow.png?fit=752%2C582&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/tullow.png?fit=752%2C582&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/tullow.png?fit=752%2C582&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/tullow.png?fit=752%2C582&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1072,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/afren-taipan-to-start-2d-seismic-in-kenyas-block-1-in-q2\/","url_meta":{"origin":1386,"position":4},"title":"Afren to start 2D Seismic in Kenya\u2019s Block 1 in Q2","author":"Samuel Kamau Mbote","date":"May 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"[twitter-follow screen_name='oilnewskenya'] Afren has announced that the company together with partners plans to shoot 150-250 km of additional 2D seismic in Block 1 in Q2 2014 followed by an exploration well a postponement from the earlier scheduled date in Q1 earlier. Block 1 is situated in North Eastern Kenya bordering\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Top News"","block_context":{"text":"Top News","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/top-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/block-1.jpg?fit=679%2C267&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/block-1.jpg?fit=679%2C267&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/block-1.jpg?fit=679%2C267&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1694,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/africa-oil-withdraws-from-ethiopias-block-7-and-8\/","url_meta":{"origin":1386,"position":5},"title":"Africa Oil withdraws from Ethiopia\u2019s block 7 and 8","author":"Samuel Kamau Mbote","date":"August 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"[twitter-follow screen_name='oilnewskenya'] Africa Oil has announced it will be withdrawing from blocks 7 and 8 in the Somali region where it has 30 percent interest together with New age which is the operator with 40 percent and EAX with 30 percent. The company says its decision has been informed by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Top News"","block_context":{"text":"Top News","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/top-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/ethiopia-blocks.png?fit=545%2C368&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/ethiopia-blocks.png?fit=545%2C368&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/ethiopia-blocks.png?fit=545%2C368&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1386"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3668,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1386\/revisions\/3668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}