BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
The Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Eloundou Essomba Gaston has urged the newly installed management of the National Refining Company, SONARA, to collaborate, so as to increase the Company’s production, in line with its modernization programme.
He said this while installing the new General Manager, Simo Njonou Jean-Paul and Board Chair Ndoh Bertha nee Bakata, last Monday January 14, 2019 in the company.
Minister Essomba tasked the new team to reinforce the fight against accidents, protect the neighbouring population, as well as the production unit and entire staff of SONARA.
The new bosses also has the duty to ensure that the ten departments that make up SONARA function efficiently so as to achieve the company’s mission, to treat crude oil and supply the refine petroleum products to the national market.
Simo Njonou Jean-Paul succeeds Ibrahim Talba Malla who had managed the company for close to six years and was recently promoted to the rank of Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Public Contracts. Ndoh Bertha nee Bakata replaces John Ebong Ngole who had been Board chair for close to 24 years since September 1994.
The Minister hailed the outgoing General Ibrahim Talba Malla for the great work done in SONARA over the past six years, and noted that, under Ibrahim Talba Malla, SONARA’s production witnessed great improvement, especially the extension and modernization and also increased production from 2.5 million to 3.5 million of refine petroleum products.
He also applauded the outgoing and long serving Board chair John Ebong Ngole for all what he did to promote SONARA to higher heights.
The new General Manager of SONARA, Simo Njonou Jean-Paul who hails from the Upper Plateau Division of the West Region was born in France on December 5, 1965. He schooled at the National School of Administration in Paris where he obtained a diploma in Public Administration.
Before his appointment, the new GM was Chief of the Division of Economic and Financial Affairs at the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic.
He was also Board member of SONARA Board of directors, President of the Board of Management of Kribi Autonomous Port, President of the internal commission of award of contracts for the operational unit of Memvele Hydro- electricity project. He is also a member for special committee for contract, for the Pilot Committee and follow up pipeline at National Hydrocarbons Company, SNH. He also held other posts including member of the Board of Directors of BEAC, the Electricity Development Company, EDE, ISSEA, member of Management committee for development Funds among others.
On her part, the new Board Chair Ndoh Bertha nee Bakata before her appointment was Special Adviser to the Prime Minister and Head of Government since 2003. She is a holder of a Masters degree in Communication and PHD student at the University of Buea where she is also a lecturer. She hails from Meme Division of the South West Region.
Speaking shortly after the ceremony, Simo Njonou Jean-Paul said “I thank God for His grace. I also thank the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya for the confidence he has in me by appointing me in this important function as the General Manager of SONARA. We will work together with the Government, the Board of Directors, all staff and stakeholders to achieve the objective of the Government, to make sure that SONARA remains a competitive company, as it is a strategic company for our country”.