国際石油２社に退去命令 チャド、資源支配強化へ
アフリカの新興産油国チャドのデビ大統領は２６日、石油大手の米シェブロンとマレーシア国営ペトロナスの２社に対し、計４億５０００万ドル（約５３０億円）に上る税金の支払いを拒否したとして、２４時間以内の国外退去を命じた。ロイター通信などが伝えた。
チャドは今月上旬、アフリカへの資源外交を積極展開する中国と国交を回復したばかり。中国の大規模な石油事業投資を見込み、チャドは資源分野に対する政府支配を強める方針とみられる。
Chad Orders Chevron,
Petronas to Leave
Chad's President Orders Chevron, Petronas to Leave Country,
Alleging They Failed to Pay Taxes
If the two companies are
evicted, Chad could seek help from China, which has taken an
active interest in Africa in its search for raw materials like
oil and metals.
Earlier this year, Chad broke off diplomatic relations with
Taiwan and turned instead to China, a move that could help it
sell its oil to the energy-hungry power.
The production and export of petroleum in Chad are overseen by the Exxon Mobil-led consortium. Under the mechanism, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corp. is responsible for 40 percent of the country's production, while Chevron and Petronas each have 30 percent.
The three companies agreed to finance a risky $4.2 billion, 659 mile pipeline to deliver oil from landlocked Chad to the Atlantic port of Kribi in Cameroon.