KPPA Investigation to commence

The investigation into the Konebada Petroleum Part Authority [KPPA] will commence after the Chief Executive Officer's appointment is formally announced.

In May this year [2024], the new board KPPA was sworn in.

Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru has instructed the new board to carry out an immediate investigation into the 23 thousand hectares of land owned by the Authority.

The investigation was to identify the portion of land still available and or how it was being sold out to other companies or individuals and the process followed to acquire the portion being sold.

This investigation will also extend the KPPA’s subsidiary company- Konebada Petroleum Holdings Limited [KPHL] who owns five non-conventional hydrocarbon development licenses.

The board was further instructed to provide a report to the cabinet after the investigation is completed for NEC to make a decision on the step forward.

Board Chairman Martin Kombri during the swearing-in assured Minister Maru to execute as instructed but however, this has not happened up until today.

NBC News reached out to identify what's causing the delay.

Mr. Kombri told NBC News that the appointment of the Authority's Chief Executive Officer was the only hurdle that caused the delay.

"We were waiting for the new CEO to be appointed first. That was done last week so, yea, the investigation will be initiated soon," Kompri said.

The new CEO will be announced formally by the board in the coming week.