Gas deal goes sour Graft body investigates Petroleum Commissioner

THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has seized the computer of Namibia’s Petroleum Commissioner, Immanuel Mulunga, following a fight over the shareholding in an exclusive exploration licence (EPL) for coal methane gas involving Usuta Imbili, daughter of the Founding President, businessman Sacky Nujoma and Mntu Nduvane, former managing director of Total Namibia.

ACC Director Paulus Noa yesterday confirmed that the graft watchdog is busy with an investigation into Mulunga’s dealings, but refused to comment on its nature.Mines and Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Joseph Iita likewise confirmed that the ACC had confiscated the Petroleum Commissioner’s computer, but was equally unwilling to explain why. The PS did, however, confirm that Mulunga had not been suspended and that the Ministry had not launched its own investigation into the matter.The Namibian found the Petroleum Commissioner in his office when the paper phoned him shortly before 16h30 yesterday afternoon.Mulunga admitted that he was called in by the ACC last Thursday.According to him, Sacky Nujoma (not the son of former President Sam Nujoma) and Nduvane contacted him last year to find out how to apply for an EPL for coal methane gas. During the course of the negotiations, Nduvane indicated that he no longer wanted Nujoma as part of the black economic empowerment (BEE) consortium making up 20 per cent of the EPL, Mulunga said.Instead, Nduvane wanted his wife and Usuta Imbili on board, he claimed.Nujoma complained, Mulunga told The Namibian.The Petroleum Commissioner subsequently got all parties back to the negotiating table, as he believed that ‘it is important that Namibians benefit from BEE’.As a result, he suggested that Nujoma, Imbili and the two Nduvanes each should get five per cent of the shares, Mulunga said.According to him, all four were satisfied with the arrangement and he agreed to issue the EPL.Soon afterwards, Nduvane allegedly starting phoning several Cabinet Ministers to complain, as he was not happy with his and his wife’s total share of ten per cent, Mulunga told the paper.He said he was scared that the investment opportunity would be ‘jeopardised’, and subsequently suggested a new shareholding formula: nine per cent for Nujoma, six per cent for Imbili and only five per cent for Nduvane and his wife together.This shareholding is now disputed and this is what has sparked the ACC’s action, Mulunga said.He is not worried about the investigation, he said.Imbili last night confirmed to The Namibian that she is one of the shareholders in the EPL. She didn’t want to comment on the investigation, though.The paper was unable to trace Nujoma and Nduvane at the time of going to press.jo-mare@namibian.com.na