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The Chairman of the Action Committee on Power (electricity) to host communities of the Kolo Creek oil field in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Mr Precious Okala has taken a swipe on Renaissance Africa Energy Nigeria Ltd.
He alleged that the firm was putting enough efforts towards reciprocating the kind gestures extended to her by host communities of the Kolo Creek oil field, saying that Renaissance has not responded responsibly to the yearnings of the communities after series of meetings they have had with her after taking over of the onshore assets of the SPDC.
Okala who doubles as the Chairman of the Elebele Community Development Committee(CDC), stated this during a recent chat with newsmen on a fact-finding tour to a select host communities of Renaissance in the State.
He described the firm as an old wine in new bottle, saying the firm is dealing with the communities with the same principles and modus operandi like the SPDC.
He said: “Renaissance has stuck to the same style and patterns the SPDC used in their dealings with Communities of the Kolo Creek oil field. Till date we’ve not seen any meaningful engagement with this firm as host communities.
“We can describe Renaissance as an old wine in a new bottle, because it’s the same management and same staff that were with the SPDC that are still with Renaissance. They had meetings with us and even as we speak we’ve not seen them implementing any of the decisions reached collectively.
“However, because the name is new in this area we’re patiently giving them some time so that we won’t be accused of over reacting and impatience”.
Speaking on the alleged incessant power outage on the power plant provided for the Communities by the SPDC prior to its divestment, the Action Committee helmsman said the communities have identified the causes of the unwarranted blackout occasionally experienced in the area.
He revealed that theft of equipments and components of the power plant and occasional failure of the plant itself were majorly responsible for power outages experienced in the area.
The chairman noted that for the theft of equipments and components of the plant, the oil firm and not the communities should be blamed, saying the firm has not provided adequate security and protection for cables and ancillary components of the plant, hence the avoidable theft.
“Very soon culprits responsible for the occasional damage and theft of cables and other components of the power plant which often keep our host communities in darkness will be arrested and handed over to Government for prosecution”, he said.
