Mon, 06/29/2015 - 00:00

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (29 June, 2015) – The Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy of Equatorial Guinea has announced new government appointments and mergers of key internal departments that will streamline its operations and contribute to an overall improvement of governance in Equatorial Guinea, says Centurion Law Group. Meanwhile, GEPetrol’s hiring of a new General Director and other key directors as part of a strategic restructuring will make the national oil company better positioned to carry out its expansion. H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, the Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy, appointed Mr. Jose Manuel Abaga Mba to become his Chief of Staff. Mr. Mba replaces Mr. Lucas Nguema Mbulito, who recently became the CEO of the public power company SEGESA. Meanwhile, Mrs. Mercedes Eworo Milam has been named Director of Petroleum Economics, replacing Mr. Tomás Felix Ongo Ehapo. Mrs. Milam will also retain her position as Director General of Hydrocarbons, representing a merger of the Hydrocarbons and Petroleum Economics portfolios. The Ministry has also merged the departments of Industry and Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The Director of Industry will now be Mr. Cesar Augusto Hinestrosa Gomez, who has overseen Equatorial Guinea’s application to become an EITI member. Mr. Jose Luis Elema Borengue is now Director of Quarries and retains his role as Director of Mines. Mr. Oscar Vicente Garcia Berniko is the new Director of National Content, replacing the outgoing Mr. Agustin Mba Okomo. Lastly, Mr. Leoncio Amada Nze has been named Director of Company Relations. “Centurion congratulates the Ministry officials on their new appointments and applauds the Ministry on merging these departments,” says NJ Ayuk, CEO of Centurion Law Group. “The restructuring will create a leaner and more effective ministry, reflecting the Minister’s strong commitment to good governance. These moves coincide with a reorganization at GEPetrol that will only make the company and the rest of the industry stronger going forward.” GEPetrol recently named Mr. Antonio Engonga Oburu as General Director, replacing H.E. Mr. Candido Nsue Okomo, who was appointed Secretary of State in the Ministry of Youth and Sports in April. Also promoted were Mr. Vicente Abeso Mbuy, as Deputy General Director, and Mr. Gabriel Mbaga Nchama, as Second Director. Centurion is a leading pan-African legal and business advisory group with extensive experience in oil and gas law. The group provides outsourced legal representation and covers a full suite of practice areas for its clients, including arbitration and commercial litigation, corporate law, tax and anti-corruption advisory and contract negotiation. Centurion specializes in assisting clients that are starting or growing a business in Africa.