The new Gabonese government announced last week by President Ali Bongo Ondimba demonstrates Gabon\u2019s intention to work on a post-Covid19 recovery based on sustainability, transparency and a sound and stable business environment.<\/p>\n
The African Energy Chamber salutes the nomination of Gabon\u2019s first women Prime Minister, H.E. Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda. Gabon has always set the tone in Africa when it comes to sustainability and inclusive growth, and the appointment of a capable woman technocrat with a strong financial and economic background is another step in the right direction.<\/p>\n
In addition, H.E. Vincent de Paul Massassa has been reappointed Minister of Petroleum, Gas and Mines and will continue leading the industry through its historic crisis while ensuring a swift and sustainable recovery of energy markets in Central Africa. Sine its first appointment at the end of 2019, H.E. Vincent de Paul Massassa has been working to ensure the successful closing of Gabon\u2019s going licensing round, bringing stakeholders together around the development of a stronger gas value chain, and multiplying efforts to further diversify Gabon\u2019s economy with the development of its mining industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrime Minister Ossouka Raponda, along with Ministre Massassa, are a winning combination for the energy industry. The oil & gas sector needs sound economic policies, an enabling business environment, and a strong vision on how to guide our industry through a historic crisis. We believe that the new government announced by President Ali Bongo Ondimba sets the tone for the recovery of Gabon\u2019s energy sector and increased investments in the value-chain in the coming years,\u201d declared Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber.<\/p>\n
Gabon\u2019s ongoing 12th<\/sup>\u00a0Offshore Licensing Round was launched in November 2018 and has already been met with significant success, resulting in the signing of a record number of PSCs in sub-Saharan Africa last year. In response to ongoing market conditions and the pandemic of Covid-19, the Ministry of Petroleum, Gas and Mines extended the submission deadline beyond April 30th<\/sup>, 2020. The extended round gives investors an opportunity to keep studying what is one of Africa\u2019s hottest upstream frontier, with 35 blocks on offer.<\/p>\n