The Chadian Minister for Petrol made the declaration on October 27, 2014, in N’Djamena.

Chad’s Petroleum Minister, Djerassem Le Bemadjiel, says the country has decided to renew the petroleum exploitation permit it withdrew from the Chinese public petroleum exploitation company, CNPC, last August after it allegedly persisted in polluting the environment, press reports said.

Le Bemadjiel made the declaration on Monday, October 27, 2014, at a press conference in the capital, N’Djamena. He equally announced that besides renewing the permit, the authorities were equally committed to withdrawing the complaint filed against the company and its leaders.

The Chinese company, on its part, agreed to pay 400 million U.S. Dollars (about FCFA 206 billion) as losses to Chad, hand to the State 10 per cent of present production and shares of the yet-to-be exploited permits amounting to 25 per cent, the Minister stated as he disclosed the terms of the agreement. The Chinese company has also agreed to repair the polluted zones in Mayo-Kebbi region in the southeast of Chad.

Tension started mounting last May when the Chadian government suspended all petroleum exploitation works by CNPC for repeated violations of environmental laws and asked the company to pay a fine of 1.2 billion U.S. Dollars (about FCFA 618 billion) for the destruction caused. The Petroleum Minister said toxic waste was dumped in over 10 sites, accusing the company of indulging in unacceptable practices.