Congo ends oil production-sharing agreements with Israeli investor Dan Gertler
Democratic Republic of Congo has ended production-sharing agreements for two oil concessions with companies controlled by Israeli investor Dan Gertler, the hydrocarbons ministry said in a letter seen by Reuters on Sunday.
The ministry said in the letter dated June 16 and addressed
to Gertler's representatives in Congo that the permits granted to Gertler's
Foxwhelp and Caprikat in 2010 for Blocks 1 and 2 near the Ugandan border had
expired.
The letter, which was signed by Christian Kanku, the
ministry's secretary general, asked the companies to transfer all technical
data and pay charges due under the contract. It did not say how much was owed.
A spokesperson for Gertler had no immediate comment
regarding the oil blocks.
The blocks, which have not produced any oil, lie across Lake
Albert from blocks in Uganda being developed by French major Total and its
partner China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Gertler and more than 30 of his
businesses in December 2017 and June 2018, accusing him of leveraging his
friendship with former Congo President Joseph Kabila to secure lucrative mining
deals.
Gertler denies any wrongdoing.
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