Question NW3031 to the Minister of Energy
15 December 2017 - NW3031
Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Energy
(a) What is delaying the finalisation and release of the report into the sale of 10.3 million barrels of the country’s strategic oil reserves by the Central Energy Fund and (b) when is it anticipated that the report will be published?
Reply:
a) A legal firm had been appointed to conduct investigations. The investigations took longer than expected. The report presented had gaps due to the method used by the investigators. The Minister directed that the report must be able to meet the principles of natural justice i.e. Ald. at partem. The financial aspect conducted by KPMG had to be subjected to a reliance audit and this further caused more delays.
b) When the Minister was supposed to receive final report the service provider on the legal part declared a conflict of interest. The Minister has instructed CEF and SFF to expedite the investigations without further delays.