Mines and Energy minister Tom Alweendo has been dragged to the High Court for “unfairly” dismissing Red Soil Energy and Mineral Exploration Company’s application for oil exploration.
According to court papers seen by The Brief, Alweendo is alleged to have declined Red Soil Energy and Mineral Exploration’s application for a petroleum exploration license over Blocks 2512A and a portion of Block 2612A, in January and March last year “because the company did not meet the requirements” and “failed to demonstrate technical and financial capability to carry out exploration operations”.
However, Red Soil Energy Managing Director, Kaura Kaura, claims he was told point blank by Mines and Energy Ministry Petrol Commissioner Maggy Shino that although his company met all the requirements, the blocks it had applied for were reserved for “politically connected people “.
Kaura, who is being represented by Lawyer Patrick Kauta, wants the Minister’s decision to be reversed.
In his application to the High Court, Kaura claims that Shino instructed him to withdraw his company’s application and apply for “any of the blocks west to those Red Soil Energy and Mineral Exploration applied for”.
A Geologist by profession, Kaura said he refused Shino’s suggestion as he found it downright improper.
The businessman has since attached alleged screenshots of missed WhatsApp calls from Shino, who he claims called him several times.
“I started receiving emissaries purportedly sent by the Minister and Shino not to approach the court for review, but rather go to their office to settle the matter. The WhatsApp calls from Shino continued. The company’s legal practitioner on record then advised that I call back Shino and record our telephonic conversation. I was able to do this and had the conversation transcribed. One of the annexures illustrate how Shino discouraged the company from filing a review application and must consider what he calls a fully-fledged option available to accommodate everyone,” Kaura claims in his affidavit.
The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has also been cited as a respondent but does not oppose the application.
The minister who is being represented by Freddy Kadhila, is yet to file his affidavit in the matter.
