Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The management of Heritage Energy Operational Service Limited (HEOSL) has been given fresh conditions by oil resource communities under the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30 in Delta State if the company wishes to continue operations.
Host communities of OML 30 are urging the company to take immediate steps to put in place a new Grand Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) based on the Chevron model to show it is really committed to a fresh start of operations in the area.
They made the position known during a town hall meeting between HEOSL and representatives of the communities held separately at Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government, and Oleh, Isoko South Local Government.
According to the communities, a copy of the GMoU should be made available to all concerned communities for proper study before any agreement will be reached with the company.
The town hall meeting, which had as its theme ‘Entering a New Era of Partnership’, was organised by HEOSL to discuss conditions for the commencement of fresh operations in OML 30.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meetings, signed by community representatives, it says:
“HEOSL should commence the process of payments of all outstanding scholarship and collection of forms for new scholarship.
“Strong mechanism should be put in place to ensure the employment and engagement of indigenes into management positions in the company.
“HEOSL should as a matter of principle commence the engagement of competent and qualified community contractors outside grass cutting and house keeping jobs.
“Salaries of contract workers should be paid promptly and should be allowed to grow. The period for this form of community engagement should be specified so that communities can be well informed and prepare adequately towards it.”
