News Article by NST posted on November 07, 2000 at 15:17:17: EST (-5 GMT)
In Sudan, the magic word is 'Petronas'
NEW STRAITS TIMES [MALAYSIA]
07 November 2000
By K.P. Waran
LANDING in Khartoum without a visa is not a very smart thing to do. But
having just flown back from a two-week tour of East Timor (and finishing a
four-part series on the subject as well as several other articles), when one
of the Bosses barks out the orders to pack your bags and head for Africa,
you
just do it.
So with two days to get the travel and other arrangements finalised, I was
quite happy when the Gulf Air staff at the KLIA airport in Sepang (at 6am in
the morning) did not ask whether I had a visa to travel to Abu Dhabi and
then
onward to Khartoum.
On board the plane were many Malaysians -- businessmen venturing to Sudan to
check out the investment climate -- and others who worked in the largest
country in Africa in the petroleum and other sectors.
Cursory nods, greetings and small talk but no mention of visa.
Upon landing in Khartoum 14 hours later (including a more than two-hour
stopover at Abu Dhabi) and queuing up at immigration, I had a strange
feeling
that things were not going to turn out right.
The immigration
officers were flipping and checking every passport page,
obviously looking
for a special stamp or addendum.
Grinning like a Cheshire cat, I handed over my passport and arrival card to
this young lass in a blue uniform with a see-through black selendang over
her
head which half covered her pretty face.
I kept my fingers crossed and at some point had to prise them open as I felt
the blood circulation was getting cut off.
Having finished checking all the pages, she went through my passport for a
second time occasionally looking at my face quizzically, probably hoping I
would point out the page with the non-existent addendum.
My heart stopped when she peered at me through the selendang and uttered the
dreaded four-letter word -- visa -- and spread out her hands. I stared at
her
blankly and said: "Aren’t you going to issue me one?"
The next moment, she barked out several Arabic phrases and soon, two burly
goons in military outfit grabbed me by my arms and half-dragged me while
another hauled my luggage and trotted behind.
The Malaysians and others at the airport gave me a pitying look -- one that
is usually reserved for those heading for the gallows. I was taken to a room
where there were several others in uniform. They told me to sit down as they
perused my travel documents including my return ticket.
In faltering English and mostly in a polite manner, they quizzed me about my
intentions in Sudan. I told them I was a journalist, and that I was in Sudan
to do some articles on the political and economic climate.
At that moment, one of the officers who was going through my luggage pointed
out the camera, wagged his finger and muttered: "No photos ... noooo
photos!"
and began to line up my five rolls of unused films on the table.
Knowing I was in deep trouble not only in Sudan but also back home in the
event I got deported. I could imagine the furious look on the face of the
Boss who had ordered my Sudanese stint (and who might be tempted to use his
walking stick which he keeps at arm's length).
I was already imagining the words he would be uttering: "Useless ... wasting
company money ... grounded ... Sungai Petani office".
Just then the young lass asked me whether I had any contacts in Khartoum who
could vouch for me and I began a lecture about how I know some journalists
and have appointments with several Ministers and government officials, not
to
mention my close ties with Petronas.
The last word seemed to trigger a reaction from nearly everyone in the room.
The girl looked up and said "Petronas", and the burly guys repeated the word
so many times that I thought I was in a valley listening to echoes.
She got on the telephone and spoke to someone and soon a six-foot-six-inch
guy in jacket barged into the room and everybody stood at attention. He
exchanged some words with the girl and turned to me and asked how I knew
Petronas.
"Oh! that is the national petroleum company of Malaysia. I am very close to
everyone in the company and in fact I have several appointments lined up
with
its officers in Khartoum. I have already spoken with Petronas officers
in
Kuala Lumpur about my impending trip" I said proudly, with a twinkle in
my
eye.
He spoke to the others in the room, then turned to me and said: "It is no
problem ... you just have to pay a fee for your visa and my officer will
issue you a one-month pass."
He then grabbed my hand, shook it vigorously and barked: "Welcome to Sudan",
and then he was off.
There were smiles all around and in the next 10 minutes, I got my visa
issued. The two burly characters carried my luggage and waved off officers
at
the Customs lane who wanted to inspect my bags.
They hailed a taxi, put my bags in the back seat, ordered the driver to send
me to the hotel and gave me a military salute as the driver pressed his foot
on the accelerator.
Those who plan to travel to Khartoum should not use this experience as an
excuse not to obtain a visa from the Sudanese embassy which is located at 2,
Persiaran Ampang, Off Jalan Ru, Kuala Lumpur.
First Secretary Mohamed Saeed Hafian insists that it is only a formality and
applicants with valid reasons to travel would be issued a visa and this
would
ensure a hassle-free process at the airport.
My experience at Khartoum airport and also during my travels in Sudan where
political leaders, government officials and others recognise Malaysia and
its
contributions epitomises the influence and respect Petronas commands in
Sudan.
Petronas has stamped its mark as a major player to be reckoned with in Sudan
not only in the oil and gas industry but also as a good corporate citizen
where it continues to give aid and contribute to better living standards
among the Sudanese community.
In July 1996, the Sudanese government invited Petronas to participate in the
Muglad Basin integrated petroleum project, together with three other oil
companies from China, Canada and Sudan.
A consortium was formed, called the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company
(GNPOC) in which Petronas has a 30 per cent equity. Petronas's stake in
GNPOC
is through Petronas Carigali Nile Ltd, a subsidiary of Petronas
Carigali
Overseas Sdn Bhd.
Other partners of GNPOC are China National Petroleum Corporation (40 per
cent), Talisman (Greater Nile) B.V. of Canada (25 per cent) and Sudan's
national oil company, Sudapet (five per cent).
The Muglad Basin project was awarded to GNPOC upon signing with the Sudanese
government in March 1997 a 30-year exploration and production sharing
agreement and a crude oil pipeline agreement for upstream and downstream
activities respectively.
Upstream, the activities include exploration and development of existing and
new fields in the blocks as well as putting up production facilities which
cover the construction of a 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) central processing
facility and 70km pipelines from the fields to the facility.
Current production in six fields -- Heglig, Unity, Toma South, El Nar, El
Toor and El Har -- is 180,000 bpd and is expected to reach 200,000 bpd by
2002.
Downstream, the activities include the construction of a 1,504km export
pipeline and a marine export terminal at Port Sudan.
Sudan joined the elite club of oil-exporting countries when it exported its
first cargo of crude on Aug 30 last year. Since then, Sudan has been
exporting 4.5 million barrels of oil a month.
Petronas continues its programme to build a pool of skilled workers, so that
Sudan can be self-efficient in the future and has enough experts in this
field.
Petronas, through GNPOC, has a Sudanisation programme. By 2001, 60 per cent
of the staff would be Sudanese and by 2006, it would be increased to 90 per
cent.
The Malaysian petroleum company has also undertaken several social projects
including funding a trustee which runs Sakina Institute, a hostel and school
for underprivileged girls in Omdurman town in Khartoum, and giving machinery
and other forms of aid to a factory manufacturing artificial limbs.
The emergence of Petronas as a major player in the Sudanese economy has also
paved the way for other Malaysian firms to make headway in the African
nation, thus forging a strong bond between the two nations.