Communities want oil search results

Communities around Lake Malawi have bemoaned government’s silence on the outcome of Full Sensor Gravity Survey which two companies exploring oil in Malawi carried out last year, saying its silence on the matter is suspicious.

Last year, government stopped Hamra Oil Holding Limited and Rakgas from continuing with the exploration excise pending the review of the exploration licences that were issued-but it is yet to make a decision one year down the line.

At a meeting on Wednesday, under the Karonga Development Community Organisation—an umbrella body of NGOs operating in Karonga—people expressed worry over government’s delay to make a decision on the future of oil exploration in blocks two and three following government’s decision to suspend the licences over some irregularities.

Human rights activists Undule Mwakasungura said government’s silence on the matter was a cause of concern to the people because they have the right to know the outcome of the results.

“People are anxious to know the outcome of the exploration survey. Government silence on the matter is not helping matters,” he said.

Mwakasungura said he organised a meeting in the district to plan its action when the licences ban has been lifted, saying he would want ordinary people to benefit from the natural resources to avoid what happened with Kayerekera mine.

“We should not exaggerate the dangers of oil mining. So many countries are doing it, why not Malawi? Sooner or later, oil will be mined, we just have to be prepared,” he said.

Similar sentiments were made at a Nkhata Bay District Council meeting where members expressed worry over the lack of communication from government on the results of the survey.

Councillor for Chikwina Ward, Faston Theu, said the issue of oil exploration results had been discussed during the council meetings as people want to know the outcome of the exploration exercise.

Theu said the people of Nkhata Bay people were expecting this matter to be concluded with urgency as the silence from both the government and the companies is making people suspicious.

“People want this matter concluded; people want to know where the oil was found. We hear it was a matter that these people were not given the licence but at least the survey was conducted and we want the results,” he said.

In an interview, Principal Secretary for Energy and Mining Ben Botolo said the results will be issued when all matters regarding the suspension of the licences have been resolved.

“We are going to resume the discussions and once all necessary matters have been concluded, the results will be issued,” he said, adding that other aspects are legal in nature. n