BAK
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- Feb 11, 2007
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- #21
UK oil firm plays down Yona's role as director
FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE
THIS DAY
Dar es Salaam
FORMER energy and minerals minister Daniel Yona has no shares in Dominion Petroleum Limited, but was simply picked as a non-executive board member in 2006, the UK-based company has declared.
The company listed on the London Stock Exchange's alternative investment market (AIM) also dismissed allegations that Yona, who resigned from the company's board last month, gave any favours to the firm while in public office.
''We have never seen or heard of any such reports and do not believe that any such reports exist. In any event, there is no truth in such a report. Daniel Yona does not hold and has never held shares in Dominion,'' said David Garland, the company's general counsel.
Responding to questions sent to him by THISDAY, Garland said Yona was appointed a director of Dominion in July 2006, following a corporate restructuring.
He dismissed reports that Yona's appointment as a Dominion director ''had anything to do with the company being awarded an exploration licence in relation to the Selous Game Reserve (in Tanzania).''
According to Garland, the Selous deal was signed on April 27, 2006 by Yona's successor as energy and minerals minister, Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, ''and not Daniel Yona.''
On how come Dominion was awarded the exploration licence despite the Selous being declared a world heritage site, Garland said the company has strict environmental guidelines and ''takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously.''
''Dominion recognizes the sensitivity of the Selous Area (and other areas) and takes all appropriate steps to ensure that its exploration activities have minimal impact,'' he asserted.
He also dismissed allegations that Yona's appointment to Dominion company's board of directors was designed to reward him for favouring the company in securing more concessional areas for oil and gas exploration while occupying the energy and minerals ministerial portfolio between 2000/05.
''Dominion has a strict and comprehensive anti-corruption policy, which it applies rigorously. The company will fully and properly investigate any genuine allegations of corrupt or wrongful conduct,'' the company's general counsel stated.
It is understood that during Yona's tenure as energy and minerals minister, Dominion signed production sharing agreements with the government in relation to over 48,200 kilometres of land within the country, including Mandawa, Kisangile, and Lukuliro.
Yona was forced to resign from the company's board on November 28, following his indictment in a Dar es Salaam court to answer charges of abuse of public office and causing a loss of more than 11.7bn/- to the government while serving as minister.
FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE
THIS DAY
Dar es Salaam
FORMER energy and minerals minister Daniel Yona has no shares in Dominion Petroleum Limited, but was simply picked as a non-executive board member in 2006, the UK-based company has declared.
The company listed on the London Stock Exchange's alternative investment market (AIM) also dismissed allegations that Yona, who resigned from the company's board last month, gave any favours to the firm while in public office.
''We have never seen or heard of any such reports and do not believe that any such reports exist. In any event, there is no truth in such a report. Daniel Yona does not hold and has never held shares in Dominion,'' said David Garland, the company's general counsel.
Responding to questions sent to him by THISDAY, Garland said Yona was appointed a director of Dominion in July 2006, following a corporate restructuring.
He dismissed reports that Yona's appointment as a Dominion director ''had anything to do with the company being awarded an exploration licence in relation to the Selous Game Reserve (in Tanzania).''
According to Garland, the Selous deal was signed on April 27, 2006 by Yona's successor as energy and minerals minister, Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, ''and not Daniel Yona.''
On how come Dominion was awarded the exploration licence despite the Selous being declared a world heritage site, Garland said the company has strict environmental guidelines and ''takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously.''
''Dominion recognizes the sensitivity of the Selous Area (and other areas) and takes all appropriate steps to ensure that its exploration activities have minimal impact,'' he asserted.
He also dismissed allegations that Yona's appointment to Dominion company's board of directors was designed to reward him for favouring the company in securing more concessional areas for oil and gas exploration while occupying the energy and minerals ministerial portfolio between 2000/05.
''Dominion has a strict and comprehensive anti-corruption policy, which it applies rigorously. The company will fully and properly investigate any genuine allegations of corrupt or wrongful conduct,'' the company's general counsel stated.
It is understood that during Yona's tenure as energy and minerals minister, Dominion signed production sharing agreements with the government in relation to over 48,200 kilometres of land within the country, including Mandawa, Kisangile, and Lukuliro.
Yona was forced to resign from the company's board on November 28, following his indictment in a Dar es Salaam court to answer charges of abuse of public office and causing a loss of more than 11.7bn/- to the government while serving as minister.
