Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons

Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons from Equatorial Guinea

Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons

Formation| April 11, 1985; 40 years ago (1985-04-11)
Headquarters| Malabo
Location|

* Equatorial Guinea

Ministro de Minas e Hidrocarburos

| Miguel Ekua Ondo
Website| minindustria.gob.gq

The Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea is the public administration body in charge of the mining industry and fossil fuels.[1][2] It is based in Malabo. The current minister is Don Antonio Oburu Ondo, appointed in 2023.[3]

## History

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The production of minerals such as gold and iron in Equatorial Guinea began in the pre-colonial period,[4][5][6] although it did not reach commercial levels until after the Spanish era, while agriculture and forestry were the pillars of the colonial economy.[7]

After independence, studies carried out by geologists from the Soviet Union (1975), the French Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) (1980 to 1985) and GEMSA, a consortium between the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Spanish Empresa Nacional Adaro de Investigaciones Mineras (ENAIMSA).[1] These studies resulted in the discovery of important deposits of uranium, gold and other minerals.[8]

Likewise, although the oil boom and the first exploitation waited until the 1990s, the first oil exploration licenses began in 1965.[9]

The Ministry of Mines was established during the first government of Macias Nguema, who appointed Ricardo Erimola Chema Minister of Industry and Mines.[10] After the overthrow of the Macías regime and during the Supreme Military Council, the powers of the ministry passed to the "Military Commissioner" (title given to ministers during the period of the Supreme Military Council) Pedro Nsué Obama.

In this period, the Mines portfolio lost the rank of ministry and became a General Directorate that depended directly on the presidency until 1985, when through a decree, the portfolio returned to Ministry status.[11]

## References

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1. ^ a b "Ministerio de Minas e Hidrocarburos". mmie.gob.gq. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
2. ^ "Hydrocarbons and Mining in Equatorial Guinea" (PDF). Ministry of Mines, Industry, and Energy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-13. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
3. ^ "Decreto de nombramiento de los ministros del Gobierno". Guinea Ecuatorial Press. 2 February 2023. p. 1. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
4. ^ "Arqueología en el estuario del rio Muni" (PDF). Revista de arqueología AYANETAL. pp. 5–10. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
5. ^ Instituto de Ciencias del Patrimonio, CSIC. "GUINEA ECUATORIAL_Excavaciones arqueológicas en la isla de Corisco" (PDF). core.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
6. ^ "La historia de Exploración de Minerales". mmie.gob.gq. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
7. ^ "La formación del sistema económico colonial en Guinea Ecuatorial, c. 1778-1936" (PDF). Hofstra University: 8. 2 April 2023.
8. ^ "Muy avanzados los sondeos mineros de la empresa Adaro en Guinea". El País. 17 April 1982. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
9. ^ "Historia de la Exploración". mmie.gob.gq. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
10. ^ "EL PRIMER GOBIERNO". ABC. 10 October 1968.
11. ^ "El Ministerio". mmie.gob.gq. Retrieved 14 October 2023.