Month: September 2014

26.09.2014

At the launch of “The Oil and Gas Year 2014” publication on 20 September, Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy, H.E. Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima, discussed many of the industrialisation projects that will be implemented in Equatorial Guinea between late 2014 and early 2015.

Among the projects mentioned by the Minister include the creation of the Technological Institute of Petroleum in Mongomo which will serve as the leading training and learning centre for petrochemical professionals in the country. He also mentioned the Integrated Petrochemical Complex in Riaba, designed to obtain products such as ammonium and phosphates, the construction of BIOTE (Bioko Oil Terminal) for the production of petroleum derivatives, and the new gas plant for local consumption and electricity generation in Bata, the largest city in the continental region. Furthermore, he discussed a new factory for cables, transformers and aluminium which will be located in the new Industrial City of Mbini (ICM). This will be operational in 2015.

According to the Minister, these projects will comprise part of a government investment programme in the industrial sector, estimated at more than two billion dollars.

Read more here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5688&lang=en

25.09.2014

President Obiang, along with the First Lady and a number of Equatoguinean officials, are in attendance at a number of United Nations (UN) activities in New York this week. In addition to giving speeches at both the UN Climate Summit and the 69^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the President also had the opportunity to meet with various world leaders, including President Francois Hollande of France, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, among others.

During his speech at the UN Climate Summit on Tuesday, the President announced Equatorial Guinea’s five-point plan to preserve the environment. These areas include: producing electrical energy through the generation of hydroelectric and turbo gas; ending the practice of flaring gas into the atmosphere and converting that gas into various derivatives (e.g. butane); replacing thermal power plants with hydroelectric plants; creating large natural reserves; and reducing the exploitation of the country’s forest reserves by 25%. By implementing such a comprehensive plan, the Government of Equatorial Guinea can help to build a more sustainable future for the Equatoguinean people.

In his address to the UNGA on Wednesday, President Obiang discussed the huge responsibility that the Assembly holds in fighting against poverty, hunger, violence, piracy and terrorism. He said that the UN should be revitalised and fortified through a process of democratisation within the body. President Obiang also noted the Government’s $2 million donation to the WHO’s Ebola fund, originally announced during the 15 September ceremony for the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences.

Read more here: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48818#.VCPJgvldWT8 and http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5700

23.09.2014

A delegation from Equatorial Guinea, led by President Obiang and the First Lady, are in attendance at the 69^th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York this week, alongside 193 Heads of State from other UN member countries. The main topic of discussion at this year’s Assembly is the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and the Equatoguinean delegation will take part in the preparation and implementation of this.

President Obiang will meet with a number of leaders at the conference, including French President Francois Hollande. He will also be delivering a speech to the Assembly on Wednesday wherein he will address the country’s upcoming national political dialogue. Among the many other related events this week, the President will be in attendance at the UN Climate Summit which seeks to catalyse action in the fight against climate change.

Read more here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5692, here http://news.yahoo.com/frances-hollande-meet-rouhani-york-200811604.html and here http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/president-obiang-to-attend-un-climate-change-summit-during-69th-un-general-assembly-276396031.html

23.09.2014

At the end of August, President Obiang announced that a national political dialogue would take place in Equatorial Guinea this November, encouraging all opposition parties, both in the country and exiled, to be a part of the discussion. As part of this dialogue, the Government will ask opposition parties to seek full legalisation, or have them become integrated within the already-legalised parties. On this, President Obiang stated: “We are aware that the exercise of democracy is incompatible with exclusion, intolerance and disqualification”. As such, this promotion of political inclusivity by the Government will help to encourage more widespread political participation within the country.

The announcement of this dialogue has been well-received by both opposition groups and the larger international community. The Spanish Government released an official statement on this issue, hailing the Equatoguinean Government for promoting this dialogue. In a recent visit by a Gabonese delegation of the exiled opposition, the delegation’s spokesman stated that “everything has changed [here]; in my opinion this is like another galaxy, for what little I have been able to see”. Thus, this dialogue is a significant step in the country’s continuing development.

Read more here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5613, here http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5591 and here http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5693

23.09.2014

On 16 September, Ophir Energy announced that it would expand its current floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project in Equatorial Guinea due to a recent finding of additional gas offshore in the Silenus East-1 well, near the island of Bioko. It is estimated that this well holds around 405 billion cubic feet of recoverable gas, expanding the project by 0.5 million tonnes per annum.

Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy of Equatorial Guinea, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, issued an official statement on this new discovery, noting his gladness at Ophir’s project expansion as it will certainly produce beneficial outcomes for the country’s growing oil industry. This will be Africa’s first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project and it represents the increasing diversification and innovation that defines the Equatorial Guinean hydrocarbons sector.

The first gas is expected to flow from this project in early 2019.

Read more here: http://af.reuters.com/article/tanzaniaNews/idAFFWN0RC02620140916

and here http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5681.

17.09.2014

From 15-16 September, Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy of Equatorial Guinea, chaired a planning seminar in Malabo for all relevant sectors involved in the country’s planned candidacy in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

The purpose of this seminar was to inform representatives from the Government, businesses and civil society on the objectives of the EITI as the country moves forward with its application to become a full EITI member. H.E. Ambassador Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme was in attendance at this panel, alongside various local and central government authorities, foreign experts and business representatives, as well as representatives from the EITI Directorate General. This same seminar will take place in Bata from 17-18 September.

The EITI is an international organisation which seeks to improve transparency within the oil, gas and mineral extraction industries in the 46 countries that it currently evaluates. Equatorial Guinea will soon put forth its application to become a candidate country.

Read more here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5662

16.09.2014

At yesterday’s awards ceremony for the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in Life Sciences, President Obiang announced that the Government of Equatorial Guinea will be donating USD 2 million to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to go towards its fight against the spread of Ebola in West Africa. In his speech, the President expressed his concern about the rapid expansion of the virus, noting the need for greater research resources to find solutions to stop the virus’s spread.

He urged other African countries to consider contributing to further research in light of the health issues present in many parts of the continent (i.e. HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, etc.), saying that the persistence of these diseases justifies the need for the work promoted by the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize.

Read more here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/buscador.php?cat=11 and here: http://www.radiointereconomia.com/2014/09/15/obiang-entrega-en-malabo-la-ii-edicion-del-premio-unesco-guinea-ecuatorial/

16.09.2014

On 15 September, the awards ceremony for the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in Life Sciences took place at the Sipopo Conference Centre in Malabo. While the ceremony is hosted by President Obiang, five other African leaders were in attendance, including the presidents of Kenya, Mauritania, Benin, Republic of the Congo and Sao Tome and Principe. Her Excellency, Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme, Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the United Kingdom, was also in attendance at this prestigious event.

On the presentation of the Prize, President Obiang noted that “[t]his award encourages us to reflect on the accountability of both politicians and scientists and civil society actors, to ensure the safety of our citizens. More resources should be devoted to research. The rapid expansion of Ebola has demonstrated the precariousness of health services”.

For their contributions to the field of life sciences, this year’s awards went to Professor Hossein Baharvand of Iran, Andre Bationo of Burkina Faso and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Tropical Medicine in Peru. The winners each received USD 100,000, a statuette from artist Leandro Mbomio Nsue and a diploma.

Read more here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5653 and here: http://www.radiointereconomia.com/2014/09/15/obiang-entrega-en-malabo-la-ii-edicion-del-premio-unesco-guinea-ecuatorial/

12.09.2014

Independent production company Global Television has announced its second documentary on Equatorial Guinea called “New Horizons of Equatorial Guinea”, produced in conjunction with the Ministry of Information, Press and Radio. This documentary discusses the country’s objectives of expanding beyond its dependency on hydrocarbons. Economic diversification is the main objective of the second phase of the Horizon 2020 Plan—the national development programme for Equatorial Guinea.

The documentary will premiere on Channel News Asia (CNA) on 12 September at 8:30pm across 25 countries.

Watch the official trailer here: https://vimeo.com/105761971

Read more about the documentary here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5643

11.09.2014

Her Excellency Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme, Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the UK, will be attending the upcoming awards ceremony for the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences, being held at the International Conference Centre of Sipopo in Malabo on Monday, 15 September. This prestigious prize is funded by the Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Foundation for the Preservation of Life, and is managed by UNESCO. It was set up to award individuals for their contributions to science which seek to improve the quality of human life.

This year’s three winners are: Hossein Baharvand for his work in stem cell research, Andre Bationo for his research on soil fertility, and the Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt (IMT) from the Universidad Cayetano Heredia of Peru for its work in combating tropical diseases. Each winner will receive US $100,000, along with a medal and a diploma to honour their work.