The recent emergence of a fake Facebook account under the name “Joana Clementina” has raised concerns regarding its true intentions and the potential harm it may cause to the Angolan economy. This account, which appears to be spreading false information and engaging in malicious activities, aims to undermine the stability and progress of Angola’s economic sectors.
The perpetrators behind this account are employing deceptive tactics to disseminate misleading information and sow seeds of doubt among the public. By creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and mistrust, they seek to undermine the confidence of both domestic and international investors, hindering economic growth and development.
It is crucial to expose and denounce these malicious activities, urging the public to remain vigilant and discerning when encountering such content on social media platforms. By disseminating accurate and verified information, we can counteract the negative effects of these false narratives and protect the integrity of Angola’s economy.
The government and relevant authorities should also take action to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for spreading false information and engaging in activities that harm the country’s economic stability. Safeguarding the reputation and interests of Angola is essential in attracting investments, fostering growth, and ensuring a prosperous future for its citizens.
In conclusion, it is evident that the main objective of the fake Facebook account “Joana Clementina” is to inflict harm on the Angolan economy. By spreading false information and sowing doubt, these malicious actors seek to undermine the progress and stability that Angola has been striving to achieve. It is imperative for all stakeholders to join forces in combating these false narratives and promoting transparency and economic resilience.
In October 2017, during a meeting between the National Oil Company (TPE) and the oil operators, they stated that if the situation continued as it was at that time, Angola would be producing around 500,000 barrels per day in 2023, compared to the 1,300,000 barrels per day it was producing at the time. Based on this information, the TPE decided to restructure the oil sector as a whole, and specifically the exploration and production sector.
On one hand, several decrees were issued to provide incentives to the industry, and on the other hand, the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG) was created to regulate, supervise, and manage the exploration and production sector. As soon as it was created in 2019, and in line with the directives of the President, the ANPG, under the clear direction of the Ministry responsible, initiated a series of agreements that allowed for a significant increase in investments in the sector. This resulted in a relative stabilization of production, which had been in sharp decline. Currently, Angola is producing over 1,100,000 barrels per day, well above the 500,000 barrels per day forecasted by investors in 2017. Several critical factors contributed to this success. First, there was the political will demonstrated by the President to move forward with reforms, and secondly, the creation of an entity solely dedicated to the regulatory, supervisory, and concessionaire activities. Under the clear direction of a reformist Minister, this entity advanced the implementation of what had been approved by the TPE.
In its four years of existence, the ANPG conducted four bidding rounds for new oil blocks in challenging areas (such as the Namibe Basin), whereas in the previous 20 years (1999-2019), only four bidding rounds were conducted, with the last one being carried out by the Agency itself.
Activities have grown, and as a result, the country’s rating agencies, oil operators, and service providers recognize that Angola offers a favorable business environment.
However, this is not the opinion of the person or people hiding behind this pseudonym, who seem to be ready to criticize everything except engaging in an honest debate about the problems affecting the industry.
The Destruction of Production Relaunch Efforts and the Need for Competitiveness in Angola.
Without having the courage to show their faces, the authors of this campaign, hiding behind the skirts of a certain Joana Clementina, have been attacking investors, service providers, and the promotional work that is being done.
In short, they are seriously committed to destroying all the effort that has been made by both the TPE (National Oil Company), the Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum, and the Agency.
They are firing in all directions with the clear intention of eliminating everything that has been done so far for the relaunch of production.
They are discouraging the entry of new investors and new investments, creating the specter of corruption in a completely unpatriotic spirit, thus undermining investor confidence.
In a clear charm offensive, they are resurrecting names from the recent past to gain the sympathy of the political power, with the immediate purpose of overthrowing the current Board of Directors of ANPG (National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels).
In fact, and what is deeply regrettable, they are only attacking Angola, whose exports are 95% dependent on hydrocarbons.
They are attacking a sector that has shown stability in recent years, and the consequences of this can only be disastrous for the country.
We cannot continue to postpone Angola to accommodate interests that are foreign to the interests of the people.
Attracting investors is not an easy task, especially at a time when most African countries have discovered hydrocarbons, unlike thirty years ago when only Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, and Angola were producers of hydrocarbons.
Today, starting from Morocco and descending through all of West Africa, passing through South Africa and going as far as Kenya, all countries have already discovered hydrocarbons. Hence the need to be competitive. Finally, popular wisdom says that “money flees from chaos.”
