WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2010-04-06 Time: 08:00:02 Posted By: News Poster
By Siseko Njobeni
Johannesburg – OIL multinational Shell intended to pull out of the downstream market in 21 African countries, the company said last week.
The move reinforces the global trend of multinationals exiting the relatively low-margin downstream market – which entails the refining of crude oil, and the selling and distribution of refined petroleum products – in favour of the more lucrative upstream activities, which relate to oil exploration and production.
Another major oil company, BP, has already announced plans to divest from five southern African countries. BP said last month that it would focus on refining and marketing investment in SA and Mozambique.
Last week Shell Oil Products Africa announced a review of its ownership of downstream businesses in 21 countries in Africa.
“While a number of options are being considered, the preferred outcome is the sale of most businesses … as going concerns, subject to successful negotiations, and any necessary regulatory and final company approvals,” it said.
The review will affect retail, commercial fuels, lubricants, liquefied petroleum gas, bitumen, aviation and marine operations in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Cape Verde, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion.
The company said its fuels, lubricants and refining activities in SA would not be affected, and neither would it s exploration and production businesses, liquefied natural gas interests and most international trading activities in Africa. The review would, however, affect its liquefied petroleum gas assets in SA.
Xavier le Mintier, executive vice-president of Shell Oil Products Africa, said the company was refocusing “our global downstream footprint into fewer, larger markets. The businesses under review in Africa are profitable and professionally run. They have strong positions in their markets and offer ample scope for growth to owners willing to invest.”
Early indications were that a number of potential buyers were interested in the businesses as going concerns, he said. The company would secure “the optimum outcome for our shareholders, customers and staff”.
Mark Williams, Royal Dutch Shell’s downstream director, said the review was in line with the company’s strategy to “concentrate” its global downstream assets, and followed a number of similar reviews and divestments in other parts of the world.
“Shell’s programme of downstream asset sales will continue through planned exits from 15% of our worldwide refining capacity and 35 % of our current retail markets, which equates to about 5% of Shell-branded retail sites around the world.”
The divestment could pave the way for smaller, privately owned companies to emerge. The Zimbabwean government recently blocked Engen’s plans to buy BP and Shell retail assets there.
This was after several Zimbabwean oil companies had complained that the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act stated Zimbabweans should own 51% of “strategic” businesses.
Original Source: 
Original date published: 6 April 2010
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201004060092.html?viewall=1