By Praise Chinecherem
ANAMBRA State House of Assembly says it is working hard to ensure that oil exploration companies adhere to operational rules and guidelines established by the Federal and state governments.
Speaker of the House, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze stated this during an executive session between the House Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources and some oil exploration companies at the legislative Committee room.
He noted that several petitions and complaints had been written by some residents over the activities of the companies hence the need for a robust interaction to ensure that proper regulations are adhered to.
“The law makers being the representatives of the people , will ensure that both the exploring companies and the host communities collaborate harmoniously for the overall interest of all,” Udeze said.
During the interactions, Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr Chidiebele Ibemeka said the exercise was not to extort or witchunt anybody but rather to ensure that the state and the host communities are not shortchanged as well as providing security for the companies to operate.
The Committee had in its previous interaction with Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) requested that they provide all relevant documents to support their claims that they have carried the host communities and the Anambra State government along in their activities.
The representative of the company , Mr Austin Brown who appeared before the Committee, presented all the documents requested except Gas Flaring Elimination and Monetization Document as well as names of Anambra indigenes under its employ as well as a comprehensive evidence of tax clearance.
Mr Brown who said he hails from Onitsha, insisted that SEEPCO had many staff of Anambra extraction however promised that he will furnish the Committee with the names , phone numbers and evidence of Comprehensive tax payments made to the state.
Addressing reporters, Brown said, “The comprehensive documents on the tax is outrageous and unattainable because some of those taxes were paid to Federal Government. However, the tax documents presented by SEEPCO were made based on demand notices from Anambra State board of internal Revenue.
“The long list of taxes to SEEPCO may be very difficult, as the Company operates for only three to four months yearly in Ogwu-Ikpele and Ogwu-Aniocha Communities, as the area is susceptible to flooding. In another development, Imo State Government is laying claims to some oil wells in Anambra State. These are some the challenges being faced by SEEPCO in Anambra State.
SEEPCO provided documents showing evidence that they have set up Host Communities Development Trust with Reference to Section 235(3) of the PIA (2021), evidence showing that 3% of the company annual budget has been paid for 2022, 2023, 2024, list of projects executed so far as Community Social Responsibility, and Document showing needs assessment of Host Communities in accordance with Section 251 of PIA,
Also a Comprehensive Document Showing the Environmental Impact Assessment, Natural Gas flare Elimination and Monetization plan with respect to Section 108 of PIA, plans for Decommissioning and abandonment after work, Evidence of out-put metering (regarding the quantity of oil and gas produced daily), List of Anambrarians who are staff of the company and Documented evidence of payment of tax to the state from 2018 till date.
