Govt eyeing BP, Shell for state oil company?
Friday, July 09, 2010
Both BP and Shell recently announced their intentions to exit the Botswana market, with the former citing a strategic review and the latter a shift to exploration and production as opposed to refinery and marketing.
Shell and BP are Botswana's two biggest and oldest petroleum retailers with extensive infrastructure countrywide and lucrative contracts across industry, many of these with government departments. Together, the two titans have 75 retail sites across the country. Other players in the market are Engen Botswana, Total and Caltex.
Batswana who marched peacefully for 'Justice for Tshepi' demanded answers. They have now received a detailed account of police investigation and a promise that the file is with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The real test is whether the state now keeps its word without further prodding. In his address, the minister asked the nation to trust the process. He spoke of rigour, not neglect, and pointed to 10 months of...