Puntland Ufeyn Clan Rebels Attack Oil Exploration Convoy

[Saalax]

A convoy carrying Africa Oil executives and Puntland Administration officials was attacked by 15-20 gunmen in Laba-rugoodle close to Ufeyn district of Bari Region in Puntland, according to local residents.

 

The gunmen are believed to be residents of the Ufeyn district who are upset about oil exploitation by foreign companies, including Canada's Africa Oil. Their main motives are allegedly to defend the local natural resources and to get a commitment from the Puntland government for rural and urban development of the area.

 

Puntland officials in Bosaso confirmed the attack, but said they are dealing with the situation cautiously and refused further comments. No injuries were reported.

 

Bosaso Mayor Mohamud Farah Beeldaaje who hails from Ufeyn said that most residents are pleased with the oil exploitation, but told Somalia Report that some “miscreants may exist."

 

Other local resident in Ufeyn said they are angry about lack of consultations on their natural resources and accused the government of creating the conflict.

 

"We want to be informed and consulted because it is our land," resident Mohamud Suugo told Somalia Report.

 

The mayor of Ufayn, Mohamud Aw Muse, the commander of the district police, Col Salaad Dheere, and the vice district police commander, Mohamed Yusuf, were arrested in Bosaso for allegedly helping the gunmen.

 

Somalia Report attempted to contact Africa Oil by email and telephone, but was unable to reach anybody for comment.

 

 

Oil is there, but getting at it problem

 

According to Africa Oil's website, the company holds two blocks in Puntland, Somalia: the Nugaal Block and the Dharoor Block.

 

Africa Oil is working with its partners in the Puntland deal, Red Emperor and Range Resources, and has a plan "to drill a prospect of 300 million barrels of recoverable oil in the third quarter of 2011," according to a Reuters article last month.

 

The company says the two basins are expected to deliver similar yields to the Marib-Shabwa and Sayun-asila Basins in Yemen, as they were contiguous before the Gulf of Aden opened up. Oil production in Yemen, which comes largely from the two basins, has declined to around 260,000 barrels per day since it began production in the mid-1980s, making it a small oil producer. Africa’s largest producers Nigeria, Tunisia and Angola pump around or over two million barrels per day.

 

Africa Oil, in its company profile, also laid out the problems it had faced and would face in actually extracting the oil – including issues over security, rights and border disputes:

 

As a result of ongoing political disputes, the legal international boundaries between Somalia (which includes Puntland, a semi-autonomous region within Somalia) and its neighboring countries are in dispute. In September 2007, the Company was advised that the Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Somaliland was claiming ownership of the Nugaal and AhlMedo Valley basins, including some or all of the area that comprises the blocks in which the Company has the right to acquire an 80 percent interest, granted by the Government of Puntland. The Republic of Somaliland and Somalia have disputed their respective borders since May 1991 when the Republic of Somaliland was established. The Company disputes the claims of the Republic of Somaliland, however, the outcome of this dispute cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

Africa Oil is highly exposed to significant political risk in Puntland (Somalia). The political climate in Somalia is characterized by strong internal political tension, turmoil and factional fighting. The political tensions sometimes escalate into violence or the threat of violence.

 

Through much of 2008 and 2009 Somalia experienced heightened instability. The Transitional Federal Government (“TFG”), which was the primary ruling party in Somalia, was dissolved in favor of a coalition government which includes representation of both the TFG and the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia(“ARS”). On January 31, 2009, Somalia elected its new President who has vowed to unify all factions of Somalia and bring peace to neighboring countries.

 

The Company continues to work and cooperate with government leaders in Somalia, however, there can be no certainty as to if, or when, the current political instability will be resolve

 

In Puntland (Somalia), the Dharoor and Nugaal Valley Production Sharing Agreements that Africa Oil has entered into are contractual agreements between the Company and the Government of Puntland. Puntland is an autonomous region in northeastern Somalia, centered around Garowe, which in 1998 declared itself to be an independent republic of Somalia. Puntland is considered to be part of Somalia, participates in the process for the restoration of the Somalia State institutions and is recognized by the TFG.

 

The Production Sharing Agreements were acknowledged by the TFG, who agreed that they would be upheld within any national framework of mining and petroleum legislation enacted as part of the Somali Unification Process which the TFG is involved in. In November 2007, Africa Oil was advised that ConocoPhillips, which entity had previously engaged in oil and gas exploration in the Nugaal and Dharoor Valleys, was claiming a continued interest in certain of the concessions that comprise the blocks in which the Company has acquired an interest. ConocoPhillips stated that its interests have not been terminated by the Somali Democratic Republic and have not been relinquished by ConocoPhillips

 

The Company disputes ConocoPhillips’s position in respect of this matter. However, if ConocoPhillips chooses to pursue its claims, the outcome of a dispute or lawsuit cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

 

http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/1220/Oil_Exploration_Convoy_Comes_Under_Attack?PHPSESSID=3a0d500044eb23f7d7807c492296ddf1

[Timur]

Was a shipment of khat threatened? Then why are you concerned? Its unfortunate that PLers treat you like a bug not even parasitic enough to be worthy of attention yet you and your dogs spend days and nights frothing over the state. Unfortunate indeed.

[Saalax]

Timur;736803 wrote:

Was a shipment of khat threatened? Then why are you concerned? Its unfortunate that PLers treat you like a bug not even parasitic enough to be worthy of attention yet you and your dogs spend days and nights frothing over the state. Unfortunate indeed.

 

 

Address the topic at hand not the messenger Mad Pirate kid.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Loool@ the garowe police helping the gunman meeshaasi waba meel khariban

[Jacaylbaro]

The mayor of Ufayn, Mohamud Aw Muse, the commander of the district police, Col Salaad Dheere, and the vice district police commander, Mohamed Yusuf, were arrested in Bosaso for allegedly helping the gunmen.

...

[Thankful]

In September 2007, the Company was advised that the Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources of the

Republic of Somaliland

Secessionists and their websites! They think they are clever but they are truly amateurs, because any site that states NW Somalia is a "republic", is definitely affiliated with the triangle administration in Hargeysa.

 

Nice try!

[Jacaylbaro]

Did u even see the name of the website ?? ,,,

[Thankful]

Again, you think you're clever!

[Jacaylbaro]

Sorry for the nightmares then ,,,,,

[Saalax]

Puntland oo Xidhay Gudoomiye Degmo

26th July 2011

 

Waxaa maanta xabsiga loo taxaabay Guddoomiyihii degmada Ufeyn iyo Taliyihii Saldhiga ee degmadaas, isla markaasna xilkii ay degmada ka hayeen laga qaaday.

 

Xariga iyo xilka qaadista Labadan nin ayaa lagu micneeyey kadib markii ay jidgooyo u dhigteen Kambaniga macdan barista oo socdaal ugu jiray sidii uu u gaari lahaa dooxada Dharoor, halkaasoo ay in mudo ah ka wadeen baaritaano la xiriira shidaal iyo macdan, waxayna jidgooyadaas u adeegsadeen ciidamo beeleedyo ka soo jeeda degmada Ufeyn iyo ciidamada Booliska ee degmadaas ka diiwaan gashan.

 

Waxaa jirtay is rasaaseyn dhex martay ciidamada ilaalada shirkada macdanta iyo kuwa ka soo jeeda degmada Ufeyn, lamana soo sheegin wax khasaare ah oo shilkaas ka yimid.

 

Amarka lagu xiray nimankan ayaa waxaa uu ka soo fulay Madaxtooyada Puntland iyadoo uu saxiixay Madaxweynaha Puntland Faroole oo heshiis dhaqaale badan uga soo xeroodo ka hela Kambaniga shidaalka baara.

 

 

http://www.galgalanews.com/?p=1433

[xiinfaniin]

^^Don't you think this company's project plan had the risk factors already identified, and contingencies devised? Oodweyne iyo aqoontiisa!

 

The locals have every right to make noises around this, so their voices are heard. In Africa unfortunately taking up arms is the only way you can get your voice heard. The admin in Garoowe MUST consider local concerns in order for this project to succeed.

 

In the big picture though every Somali must welcome the oil exploration project in Puntland. Somali oil is for Somalis where ever they are. If this materializes, it will make that much easier for other oil exploration and production anywhere in Somalia.

[Saalax]

Xaaji Xunjuf;736831 wrote:

Loool@ the garowe police helping the gunman meeshaasi waba meel khariban

 

 

[Burn Notice]

Oodweyne;736936 wrote:

Watch what happens to the "SHARES" of this company when this "incident" get picked up by the likes of Bloomberg's newswire alert services, presumably either in this week or at latest in the beginning of next week...

Lol...you're very naive if you think a little bit of negative press by parties that missed out on getting their share of the pie will stop this project...FAR bigger hurdles have been faced and negotiated

 

Big oil is watching and getting ready to move in once the oil quantities are determined ...this is HUGE and things are just about to heat up and there is nothing the naysayers can do about it.

 

Once the oil is "proven up" watch for a major oil co. or Chinese/Korean take over

 

In the interim, you and Nassir should give the Thesaurus a rest...your posts are borderline incoherent

 

Don't hate the player hate the game lol

[Timur]

I had no idea that this oil thing would drive so much envy. This Oodweyn guy is writing entire essays to make himself feel better.

 

Oodweyn - repeat 5 times - "there is no oil" - and perhaps your fears will wash away. I still have yet to understand how a prosperous Puntland is bringing down your happiness. Don't you want PL to be richer?

[Timur]

You've actually successfully convinced yourself of the legitimacy of your own feel-good lies. I guess I can't expect much better from someone who believes in a make-belief independence.