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Article

21 Jan 2014

Author:
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Berne Declaration report re oil trading & Nigeria - company responses & non-responses

[Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies named in the report to respond. Tridax & Mezcor Energy responded in the media; responses from Mercuria Energy, MRS Group, Sahara Energy, Trafigura and Vitol are provided. We will indicate here whether Ontario Oil & Gas and Rahamaniyya Group respond.] In a November 2013 report, "Swiss traders’ opaque deals in Nigeria", Berne Declaration contrasted the great oil wealth and strong recent economic growth in Nigeria, with the lack of development, including low levels of education and health, in Nigeria. It said, "Oil, which makes up 58% of State income, is clearly not contributing to the development of this country as much as it could and above all as much as it should." The report raises concerns about sales by Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) to oil traders based in Switzerland at below-market rates, and deals between Swiss trading firms and Nigerian individuals and companies suspected or accused of corruption. The report accuses Swiss trading firms of "misappropriation of [Nigerian] import subsidies" for refined oil products (petrol, kerosene, etc.) and alleges that certain Swiss firms provide "a haven for Nigerian fraudsters"...[also refers to Anosyke Group, Arcadia, Ax Energy, Calson, Chevron, Dell Energy, Eterna Oil & Gas, Glencore, Gunvor, Hyson, Litasco, Napoil, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Petrade Brassleto and Petrowest Services,