Full Access, East Africa, Somalia Mogadishu - The Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals of the federal government of Somalia has issued a press release saying it is closely following an operation it says is illegal to search for oil in the northern regions of Somalia. This was reported by the Somali media, specifying that the note refers to Somaliland, a self-declared independent northern Somali region. The ministry said the plan is being implemented by a company called Genel Energy PLC, which claims it has permission to explore and exploit oil resources in Somalia. A press release from the ministry said that the federal government of Somalia has clearly rejected the Genel Energy PLC claim that it has the right to explore for oil or fuel in the northern regions or Somaliland. He also called on Genel Energy PLC to halt its illegal claims and plans in Somaliland, which threaten Somalia's sovereignty and integrity, which is why Mogadishu "will take every possible measure and resort to every possible legal action" in response to any violations . Genel Energy plc is an oil company headquartered in Jersey with operational headquarters in Turkey. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It has its exploration and production operations in northern Iraq with plans to expand its activities to other countries in the Middle East and North Africa. As stated on the company website “Genel has been operating in the Kurdistan region of Iraq for almost 20 years. Production from the Genel fields has been an integral part of the development of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil industry”. Again, the company's website highlights that Genel Energy's main resources are located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, with a portfolio that “currently contains an operating interest of 104 million barrels of 2P reserves in four fields: Taq Taq, Peshkabir, Tawke and Seamstress. Net reserves and resources across the portfolio amount to 5.6 billion boe." In the summary of the company's interests, in addition to Iraqi Kurdistan and Morocco, there is Somalia where Genel Energy specifies that it is an operator in two projects: 51% in lot SL1013 together with Opic Somaliland Corporation with 49%, and in the Odewayne field where it is operator with 50%, together with Sterling Energy (40%) and Petrosoma (10%). (ICE ADDIS ABEBA)

Fonte notizia: infoafrica