Alweendo butts heads with alleged TotalEnergies ‘shareholder’
The ministry of mines and energy has addressed allegations of corruption levelled against minister Tom Alweendo in a letter by a certain Louis Beauvais, who claims to be representing shareholders of French multinational TotalEnergies.
Alweendo is also accused of unduly influencing the appointment of current petroleum commissioner Maggy Shino, despite her appointment being shot down by the Public Service Commission of Namibia (PSC), Beauvais claimed.
Letter
Hitting out at the minister’s alleged transgressions, Beauvais raised concerns about Alweendo’s conduct in a letter to the company’s chairman and CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, asking the board to consider taking legal action against the Namibian government’s alleged conduct, similar to Burma, where it challenged human rights abuses.
“It is unfortunate that we ask of the board to take similar steps against the Namibian government by stopping any further investments into block 2913B in the Orange Basin, offshore southern Namibia, due to corruption,” Beauvais wrote.
He said investigations conducted by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) showed that there had been alleged foul play in the conduct of the mines ministry regarding the awarding of a licence to Zambezi Exploration, a company alleged to be close to Alweendo.
“Our concerns emanate from the reporting of a case between Red Soil Exploration and the ministry – flagged by the DOJ,” Beauvais said.
Not up to task
Beauvais similarly questioned Alweendo’s role in the appointment of Shino, saying the position had intentionally been left open until such a time she was deemed competent enough to be appointed.
“When the petroleum commissioner’s position became vacant, Maggy Shino was a petroleum inspector and could not qualify for the position. The position was left vacant until she was eligible for the position – or so at least they thought,” Beauvais claimed.
Shino’s appointment was not endorsed [by the PSC], leading to Alweendo’s intervention, he alleged.
"Eventually, when she was selected for the position, the [PSC] overturned her selection and recommended someone else as she was not eligible. However, Alweendo intervened and changed the PSC’s decision,” he said.
Unfairly favoured
Alweendo was also accused of offering unsolicited advice to Zambezi Exploration, as well as to oil and gas financier Seacrest, pertaining to the extension of bank guarantees. Both companies were in contention for the same oil block.
“Alweendo, contrary to the advice and opinion of the Attorney-General, the Petroleum Act and Exploration Act, and anti-corruption laws, continued favouring a company called Zambezi Exploration – funded by Seacreast and Gil Hozman – by awarding them a block, which he demarcated to favour them contrary to the [the attorney-general’s] advice, and also by extending the timelines of their submission of bank guarantees,” Beauvais said.
Alweendo did not make an effort to provide the same support to Red Soil, which was in contention for the same block, he claimed.
“The same treatment was not afforded to the other applicant. In fact, Red Soil Exploration – in their affidavit to the High Court – complained that the minister acted unreasonably, unfairly and irrationally in declining their application due to financial capabilities. Red Soil was not afforded extensions and special treatment like Zambezi.”
Ministry dismisses allegations
Meanwhile, the ministry has disputed the allegations, saying the allocation of the oil block to Zambezi Exploration and Shino’s appointment were both above board.
“Zambezi did not enjoy favourable treatment compared to others in similar situations. Companies that have qualified to be awarded exploration licences are required to provide a suitable performance guarantee within a reasonable time before a licence is issued. Zambezi successfully applied for an exploration licence. Red Soil applied for an exploration licence and was unsuccessful,” it said.
Regarding Shino’s appointment, the ministry said she was the best-performing candidate during the recruitment process.
“It is our position that she was appointed procedurally and fairly. The panel scored [Shino] the highest with 72% – the next highest candidate scored 58%. The PSC declined to appoint her, arguing she does not have a minimum of three years’ experience at managerial level. We successfully appealed against the PSC’s decision, as per public service rules.”
In a late statement yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister also dismissed allegations of favouritism in Shino’s appointment, saying it was done in compliance with the provisions of the Public Service Act.
The ministry questioned the legitimacy of the letter, saying TotalEnergies could not confirm receiving it and that they were unaware of who Beauvais was. The ministry said it decided to respond to the letter due to the gravity of the accusations.
* Note: The web version of this article has been amended to rectify errors contained in the printed edition.
Alweendo is also accused of unduly influencing the appointment of current petroleum commissioner Maggy Shino, despite her appointment being shot down by the Public Service Commission of Namibia (PSC), Beauvais claimed.
Letter
Hitting out at the minister’s alleged transgressions, Beauvais raised concerns about Alweendo’s conduct in a letter to the company’s chairman and CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, asking the board to consider taking legal action against the Namibian government’s alleged conduct, similar to Burma, where it challenged human rights abuses.
“It is unfortunate that we ask of the board to take similar steps against the Namibian government by stopping any further investments into block 2913B in the Orange Basin, offshore southern Namibia, due to corruption,” Beauvais wrote.
He said investigations conducted by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) showed that there had been alleged foul play in the conduct of the mines ministry regarding the awarding of a licence to Zambezi Exploration, a company alleged to be close to Alweendo.
“Our concerns emanate from the reporting of a case between Red Soil Exploration and the ministry – flagged by the DOJ,” Beauvais said.
Not up to task
Beauvais similarly questioned Alweendo’s role in the appointment of Shino, saying the position had intentionally been left open until such a time she was deemed competent enough to be appointed.
“When the petroleum commissioner’s position became vacant, Maggy Shino was a petroleum inspector and could not qualify for the position. The position was left vacant until she was eligible for the position – or so at least they thought,” Beauvais claimed.
Shino’s appointment was not endorsed [by the PSC], leading to Alweendo’s intervention, he alleged.
"Eventually, when she was selected for the position, the [PSC] overturned her selection and recommended someone else as she was not eligible. However, Alweendo intervened and changed the PSC’s decision,” he said.
Unfairly favoured
Alweendo was also accused of offering unsolicited advice to Zambezi Exploration, as well as to oil and gas financier Seacrest, pertaining to the extension of bank guarantees. Both companies were in contention for the same oil block.
“Alweendo, contrary to the advice and opinion of the Attorney-General, the Petroleum Act and Exploration Act, and anti-corruption laws, continued favouring a company called Zambezi Exploration – funded by Seacreast and Gil Hozman – by awarding them a block, which he demarcated to favour them contrary to the [the attorney-general’s] advice, and also by extending the timelines of their submission of bank guarantees,” Beauvais said.
Alweendo did not make an effort to provide the same support to Red Soil, which was in contention for the same block, he claimed.
“The same treatment was not afforded to the other applicant. In fact, Red Soil Exploration – in their affidavit to the High Court – complained that the minister acted unreasonably, unfairly and irrationally in declining their application due to financial capabilities. Red Soil was not afforded extensions and special treatment like Zambezi.”
Ministry dismisses allegations
Meanwhile, the ministry has disputed the allegations, saying the allocation of the oil block to Zambezi Exploration and Shino’s appointment were both above board.
“Zambezi did not enjoy favourable treatment compared to others in similar situations. Companies that have qualified to be awarded exploration licences are required to provide a suitable performance guarantee within a reasonable time before a licence is issued. Zambezi successfully applied for an exploration licence. Red Soil applied for an exploration licence and was unsuccessful,” it said.
Regarding Shino’s appointment, the ministry said she was the best-performing candidate during the recruitment process.
“It is our position that she was appointed procedurally and fairly. The panel scored [Shino] the highest with 72% – the next highest candidate scored 58%. The PSC declined to appoint her, arguing she does not have a minimum of three years’ experience at managerial level. We successfully appealed against the PSC’s decision, as per public service rules.”
In a late statement yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister also dismissed allegations of favouritism in Shino’s appointment, saying it was done in compliance with the provisions of the Public Service Act.
The ministry questioned the legitimacy of the letter, saying TotalEnergies could not confirm receiving it and that they were unaware of who Beauvais was. The ministry said it decided to respond to the letter due to the gravity of the accusations.
* Note: The web version of this article has been amended to rectify errors contained in the printed edition.
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