Equatorial Guineas minister of mines and hydrocarbons (MMH) Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima has issued a mandate during a virtual meeting for all oil and gas workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus
The mandate has been enforced in order to drive the country’s vaccination rollout programme, ensuring increased operations and production across the hydrocarbons sector while safeguarding workers against the virus.
Lima remains committed to expanding the country’s oil and gas sector while at the same time mitigating the spread of the virus. By requiring all oil and gas workers, including both national and expatriate employees to be vaccinated, the MMH is paving the way for other industries to put the safety of their workers first.
“It is forbidden for unvaccinated individuals to work on onshore or offshore facilities. They are public servants and must be protected,” stated Lima in the virtual meeting.
With Equatorial Guinea prioritising its vaccination rollout programme, the country has received a shipment of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccines from China at the end of June 2021 with more expected to follow – the oil and gas sector is driving progress.
In the virtual meeting, the MMH and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare have requested an increase in the number of weekly flights to Equatorial Guinea, specifically for the oil and gas sector. Requested through the Political Committee of Surveillance Against COVID-19, the MMH is focused on boosting oil and gas productivity while maintaining the safety of employees.
“Equatorial Guinea has taken the right steps in driving oil and gas productivity by ensuring that the oil and gas sector is both a safe and productive working environment for all oil and gas employees. Africa’s oil and gas sector can lead the way in the continent’s vaccination rollout and we are thankful to the government’s covid committee and other Ministries within Equatorial Guinea,” concluded Lima.
