Algeria: Saipem’s special treatment
Eni's subsiduary, Saipem which made huge gains in contracts in Algeria and it is now alledged that it did so with the active assistance of Sonatrach executives who were bribed and this may have included the minister of energy at the time Chakib Khelil according to the Algerian daily Echorouk.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Algeria-Saipem-...
The departure of the US company Brown Root Condor in 2006 after a terrorist attack opened up the market for Saipem which won eight oil and gas projects worth $11 billion between 2006 and 2009 while Brown Root Condor achieved less than $30 million-project -orders in the Algerian market. Chakib Khelil and his nephew Reda Hameche are said to have initiated the deals. Scandals blew up at the end of 2009 and infact there were rumours circulating since 2005.A number of Sonatrach executives were tried and convicted of corruption including Sonatrach president Mohamed Meziane. however it was only when Italian authorities began to investigate the situation that charges began to be levelled at Chakib Khelil himself.
Chakib Khelil was born in Oujda as was President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and was one of the President's closest collaborators. After working in the United States for a few years, he joined Sonatrach in 1971, and became president of the Valhyd Group in 1973-1976. In 1980 he joined the World Bank, working on petroleum-related projects; he retired from it in 1999, joining President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's cabinet in the same year. In 2001 he became President of Sonatrach and Secretary General of OPEC,he was again appointed as Secretary general of OPEC in 2007.
He introduced ground breaking legislation in Algeria with new hydrocarbons law which ended Sonatrach's monoply role allowing international oil and gas companies to be independent operators. This was later reversed by President Bouteflika and Chakib Khelil was close to resigning but was persuaded to stay on as minister. The relationship with international oil and gas companies never really recovered from the reversal of the law which resulted in retrospective tax demands and restrictions on the repatriation of profits.He was said to be the only government minister of international stature in the Algerian government.
He isa member of the advisory board for the Canadian Oil and Wilton Resources which Echorouk says is planning to entre the Algerian Hydrocarbons sector.
Chakib Khelil was born in Oujda as was President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and was one of the President's closest collaborators. After working in the United States for a few years, he joined Sonatrach in 1971, and became president of the Valhyd Group in 1973-1976. In 1980 he joined the World Bank, working on petroleum-related projects; he retired from it in 1999, joining President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's cabinet in the same year. In 2001 he became President of Sonatrach and Secretary General of OPEC,he was again appointed as Secretary general of OPEC in 2007.
He introduced ground breaking legislation in Algeria with new hydrocarbons law which ended Sonatrach's monoply role allowing international oil and gas companies to be independent operators. This was later reversed by President Bouteflika and Chakib Khelil was close to resigning but was persuaded to stay on as minister. The relationship with international oil and gas companies never really recovered from the reversal of the law which resulted in retrospective tax demands and restrictions on the repatriation of profits.He was said to be the only government minister of international stature in the Algerian government.
He isa member of the advisory board for the Canadian Oil and Wilton Resources which Echorouk says is planning to entre the Algerian Hydrocarbons sector.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Algeria-Saipem-...