A Delegation from Africa Oil Corporation Visits Puntland
Thursday, 22-Nov 2007
Bossaso, Puntland: Mr. Rick Schmitt President and CEO Africa Oil Corporation (formerly of CanMex Minerals Corporation) and his staff arrived at the Bossaso Airport. Accompanying Mr. Schmitt were Mr. Paul Coyer Drilling Manager and Mr. John West Geophysicist.
The Puntland Government signed a contract (Production Sharing Agreement) with the CanMex Minerals Corporation (now Africa Oil Corporation) in January 2007.
The purpose of the visit was to brief the President and Government on the drilling program and the target areas that the company is planning to drill.
During their stay in Bossaso, the delegation visited the Bossaso Port; they also assessed area roads and infrastructure.
The delegation after a day of visiting sites in Bossaso proceeded by land to the Capital of the State Garowe. Along the route to Garowe, an evaluation of the main road and all bridges was also conducted. This assessment was performed in order to determine the possible route of the drill rig to the drill area targets.
In Garowe Mr. Schmitt and Mr. Ken Watson General Manager (Africa Oil Corp) met with the President H.E. Mohamud Musse Hersi at Garowe Presidential offices. While Mr. Coyer and Mr. West continued with their assessment of roads, access to the drill site and they also visited previous drill sites in the Nugaal Region.
Puntland Government Officials attending this meeting included: the Vice President Hon. Hassan Dahir Mohamud, the speaker of the Puntland Parliament Hon. Ahmed Ali Hashi, the Minister of Finance Hon. Mohamed Ali Yusuf, Minister of Education Hon. Ahmed Said Nur, Minister of Information, Telecommunication, Culture and Tourism Hon. Abdirahman Mohamed Salah (Bangax), Acting Minister of Security Hon. Xaaji Bakiin, Islaan Ciise Islaan Mohamed (Traditional Community Elder and Sultan Mohamed Garrase (Traditional Community Elder).
The President stated, “I want to welcome you to Puntland, today you have in front of you the Government of Puntland and the Traditional Community Elders of the Nugaal Region, we are very happy that you have come to us �. Both Traditional Elders stated that they will fully support the Government in their policy of developing the State’s natural resources. Sultan Mohamed Garrase stated, “We have heard with our ears for years that there is oil here, some of us are getting old we want to see with our own eyes that it is not just a dream but it is reality that there is oil here, this will help all our people�.
Mr. Schmitt thanked the President and Community leaders for their warm welcome. Mr. Schmitt stated that African Oil Corporation has been involved in the Puntland Project for approximately nine months and in his 30 years of experience in the petroleum sector in the Middle East region he has never seen a project proceed so rapidly. Mr. Schmitt added that the company has analyzed all the data and is anticipating in drilling the target areas in the early part of 2008. Africa Oil Corporation will continue with their field work and other logistical work in Puntland
RRS Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
