Labour and Social Security Minister on December 4, 2014, decorated 40 personnel of the corporation with diverse labour medals.

Government has acknowledged the contribution of some workers of the National Hydrocarbons Corporation (NHC) to the smooth functioning of the corporation and thus the country’s socio-economic development.

Labour and Social Security Minister, Grégoire Owona, yesterday December 4, 2014 decorated some 40 workers of NHC with labour medals ranging from bronze, silver to gold for relentless services that have propelled NHC to the country’s top State-owned company. This was for the period 2013-2014.

Speaking on behalf of the NCH personnel during the heavily-attended and colourful ceremony at the Yaounde Conference Centre, Jean-Baptiste Abessougue praised the administration for putting at their disposal the necessary instruments not only for job satisfaction but equally for an optimal output.

The medal award ceremony came after that of 2012 during which some 41 workers of the company got decorated with gold. Of the 40 medals this year, 22 were in gold and Mr. Abessougue said it was telling of the fact that the company is going through transition as some of them of the 1980 generation will soon be going on deserved retirement to hand the baton to the younger generation.

Meanwhile, to the Executive General Manager of NHC, Adolphe Moudiki, the excellent performance of the company was largely due to the commitment and assiduity of the workers. Mr Moudiki disclosed that one of the reasons for their satisfaction was the start of gas delivery to the Kribi thermal plant for the production of electricity.

He said the gas, thanks to the successful execution of the Kribi Gas Fired Plant, has helped to significantly step up the quantity of electricity for both industrial and domestic use. Petroleum production, the Executive General Manager added, moved from 24.28 million barrels in 2013 to 27.9 million barrels in 2014.

Furthermore, the quantity of crude oil sold for the State stood at 15.641 million barrels in 2013 and as at October 31, 2014, it already stood at 13.462 million barrels, representing a 2.43 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Mr Moudiki also rejoiced that after deducting production charges, the NHC in 2013 transferred FCFA 538.79 billion to the State treasury and that between January and October 2014, the corporation transferred FCFA 435.10 billion to the government treasury. Also, thanks to an increase the transit fee for the transport of oil through the Chad/Cameroon pipeline, the revenue for the State moved from FCFA 9.47 billion in 2013 to FCFA 17.53 billion as at October 31, 2014.

Presenting government’s encouragement to the corporation, Minister Grégoire Owona lauded what he termed the conducive working environment at NHC thanks to permanent dialogue between the administration and the personnel through their spokespersons. The Minister prayed for the work-friendly social climate to continually reign for efficiency to prevail.