MBABANE: Jeremy Liang,the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan is eyeing the multibillion eSwatini Strategic Oil Reserves project for the benefit of his country, an independent investigation reveals.
As a result, the Ambassador recently organized a trip to Taiwan for Prime Minister(PM) Russel Mmiso Dlamini, Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhokhela and Principal Secretary(PS) in the Prime Minister’s Office among others.
The purpose of the meeting, it has been disclosed, was to enable the Prime Minister(PM) and the Natural Resources Minister to tour the Taoyuan Refinery Plant situated in the Taiwan North-western Taoyuan
City.
An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that,the multi-billion Oil Reserves Project is facilitated between two(2) State owned companies being the Eswatini National Petroleum Company(ENPC) and the CPC Corporation owned by the Taiwan Government.
CPC stands for the Consumer Protection Committee, a Taiwan State owned petroleum, natural gas and gasoline company.
The entity is the core of the Taiwanese petrochemicals industry and owns the Taoyuan Refinery Plant that was recently toured by the eSwatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini and Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhokhela.
It has been disclosed that,Taiwan’s domestic production of crude oil yields extremely low volumes and as a result,there’s a great demand for the State owned CPC Corporation to import all of the crude it refines to supply the domestic market.
But to ensure the stability of the production,Taiwan CPC Corporation has over the years,worked towards maximizing procurement on long-term contracts and to diversify it’s sources of crude.
In his online statement, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini(PM) confirmed that, together with his delegation, he visited the Taoyuan Refinery Plant in the Taiwan Taoyuan City.
“I then proceeded to tour the Taoyuan Refinery Plant in Taoyuan City. As Eswatini embarks on constructing our first ever Strategic Oil Reserve, it is important that we learn how our partners approached similar projects, particularly with regard to environmental protection and maintenance issues”, said the Prime Minister.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter when reached by this publication.
On or around the 7th September 2023, Taiwan and eSwatini signed an agreement for the construction of the Strategic Oil Reserves and it has since emerged that,Taiwan will in return, benefit by sourcing the oil from eSwatini to boost its domestic supply.
A research conducted by this publication uncovered that in 2021, Taiwan imports of crude oil reached 136.89 million barrels in 2021 with 52.63% sourced from the Middle East, 38.96% from the United States(US) and 7.98% from the entire African continent.
Taiwan interests in Africa were undermined after almost all African countries except eSwatini adopted and endorsed the United Nation(UN) Resolution 2758 of 1971 and terminated diplomatic ties with the Chinese Province in favour of the People’s Republic of China(PRC).
But the agreement between the two(2) countries with regards to the construction of the Strategic Oil Reserves, triggered tension between the Taiwan Ambassador Jeremy Liang and the Eswatini National Petroleum Company(ENPC) Board of Directors led by businessman Muzi Dlamini of MA Dlamini Consulting Engineers.
It later transpired that, the Board had already identified investors while the Taiwan Ambassador was also eyeing the same project for the benefit of his country.
Established in terms of the Eswatini National Petroleum Act,the ENPC is a government parastatal under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy with a mandate to, among others,secure, market and trade in crude oil including other petroleum products.
But subsequent to the serious disagreements between the Eswatini Petroleum Company Board of Directors and Taiwan Ambassador Jeremy Liang who “has a vested interest” in the Oil Reserves Project, the diplomat allegedly ordered Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhonkhela to dismiss the Board to ensure the smooth facilitation of the multibillion project.
Indeed on or around 28th March 2024, Prince Lonkhokhela, the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy announced the dismissal of the Board and this, was shortly after he returned from Taiwan to conclude the Oil Reserves deal.
A questionnaire was sent to Nhlanhla Dlamini, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Eswatini National Petroleum Company, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Taiwan Ambassador Jeremy Liang who commands influence in the eSwatini Government, avoided questions on the matter.
Reached for comments on Tuesday evening, Brian Sangweni, the National Spokesperson of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) questioned the Oil Reserves agreement between eSwatini and Taiwan, he said such agreements with the Chinese Province undermine the United Nations(UN) ‘One China Principle’.
“As a country, we shouldn’t be entering into agreements with the Chinese Province because such agreements undermines the ‘One China Principle’.But apart from that, the proceeds of this agreement might be used to target civilians who are calling for democracy. You will recall that at height of the political unrest,Taiwan donated weapons that were used against civilians. So as PUDEMO, we are worried with such agreements between our country and the Chinese Province”,said the PUDEMO National Spokesperson.
Oil Reserves(pic: Stock).