Assala Gabon9 Feb 2024 11:23
Https://www.union.sonapresse.com/gabon-economie/rachat-des-actifs-dassala-gabon-la-goc-fait-valoir-sa-preemption-27227
ONE month and a half after the instructions of the President of the Republic, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, concerning the
purchase of Assala assets, Gabon confirms having received several offers from large companies and reassures public opinion
of its ability to raise funds as part of this operation. Indeed, while rumors were circulating relating to
an alleged inability of the State to raise the funds necessary to exercise pre-emption for the repurchase of Assala,
as announced by the Head of State in his speech to the Nation, the Director General of Hydrocarbons, Ernest
Ndong Nguema, brushed aside this information.
"I would like to remind you that the pre-emption process as defined in the law, that is to say the Code of
hydrocarbons, provides that in the event of transfer or assignment of rights, the State has 60 days to make
pre-emption. In the event that the State does not exercise its right of pre-emption, the national operator (GOC) has at its discretion
45-day turn to pre-empt. The GOC exercised this right of pre-emption on November 25, 2023, therefore before
the expiration of the deadline which was December 3, 2023. This was the only deadline that had to be respected,” he declared.
And to continue: “The sellers and the GOC are now engaged in a negotiation which should lead to the
signature of a new deed of transfer, which defines the deadlines for the payment and effective transfer of the asset.
Concerning the State's capacity to raise the funds to make this acquisition a reality, I would again like to reassure
public opinion. Several opportunities and financing mechanisms are available to us. Our attention is focused
therefore on the assurance that we select the best option from the point of view of the interests of the State ".