CNOOC Uganda Bosses On Hot Seat Over Lack Of Safety Measures, Huge Disparity Between Workers’ Wages

Date:

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Officials at the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC Uganda), a subsidiary of CNOOC International, have come under fire from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, over allegations of lack of safety measures, plus operating with under wage disparity between Ugandan and Chinese employees.

The allegations came to light following a fatal accident in the Kingfisher Project Area, operated by CNOOC Uganda that led to the death of a subcontractor a few days ago, which has since drawn the Authority’s attention to the company’s employee health, and safety measures and welfare record.

This website has established that following the allegations, the Petroleum Authority, which is the oil and gas sector’s regulator, has since expressed concern about CNOOC’s operations, citing unheeded safety warnings, which eventually resulted in the tragic incident.

Sources privy to the matter reveal that on October 6, 2023, a fatal accident occurred in the Kingfisher Project Area, resulting in the loss of one subcontractor personnel’s life, which prompted the Authority to intervene in the matter by conveying condolences to the family of the deceased, before expressing dismay over the incident.

The Authority also highlighted that several previous safety incidents had been brought to the attention of CNOOC Uganda Limited (CUL) but all of which had been ignored by the proprietors of the company, hence deeming the trend unacceptable and detrimental to personnel safety and the sector’s reputation.

Following the company’s negligence and refusal to implement safety measures as directed, the Petroleum Authority has since suspended all Kingfisher’s field operations, except those necessary for field safety and security.

Additionally, an online meeting via Zoom was scheduled for October 8, 2023, to review the incident and determine the way forward for the company, the results of which are yet to be revealed by the Authority.

It should be recalled that the appointment of Liu Xaingdong as President of CNOOC Uganda in July 2023 marked a change in leadership for the company, whereby Liu replaced Mr. Chen Zhuobiao, who had held the position since September 2020.

Liu previously served as the Head of the Development and Production department at CUL from 2011 to 2015 before assuming the role of Vice President at CNOOC International until May 2023.

However, besides the tragic incident above, it should be noted that CNOOC Uganda, one of the co-developers of Uganda’s oil and gas fields in the Albertine Graben, has a history of health and safety issues, as well as employee welfare concerns.

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda had previously directed the company to address complaints by its Ugandan workers regarding mistreatment and disparities in safety standards between Ugandan and Chinese expatriate workers in dangerous working environments.

One significant grievance among workers was the huge wage gap, whereby Ugandan workers receive only 16% of the salary paid to their Chinese counterparts.

Records indicate that the lowest-paid Chinese worker earns a UGX43 million gross salary, while the highest-paid Ugandan worker earns a UGX7 million gross, a difference that most Ugandan employees consider so unfair.

In September 2014, PAU’s Executive Director, Ernest T. Rubondo, directed CNOOC to address these employee-related issues but all his directions have since landed on the deaf ears of the company’s bosses.

- Advertisement -

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Top Story! Kampala Ministry, KCCA Top Officials Commend Hamz Stadium Readiness For EALASCA Games

The Minister for Kampala, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, together with...

St. Kizito High School Namugongo Tops 2024 UCE Rankings, Celebrates Stellar Performance

St. Kizito High School Namugongo, a Christian-founded institution named...

Hajjat Namyalo Reaffirms Museveni’s Commitment to Empowering Faith-Based Leaders

By ONC Media DeskThe Senior Presidential Advisor on Political...

JADEF Partners with Ministry of Gender to Boost Women’s Leadership in Ngora District

The Jacqueline Amongin Development Foundation (JADEF), in partnership with...