New Angola president fires Sonangol chief

Nov. 16, 2017
Angola’s new president has fired the president of state-owned Sonangol, who was appointed to the position in June 2016 by her father, the former president. Isabel dos Santos implemented a series of reforms at the financially ailing oil and gas company aimed cutting costs and improving efficiency.

Angola’s new president has fired the president of state-owned Sonangol, who was appointed to the position in June 2016 by her father, the former president (OGJ Online, July 25, 2016).

Isabel dos Santos implemented a series of reforms at the financially ailing oil and gas company aimed cutting costs and improving efficiency.

She canceled several major projects, including a long-planned, 200,000-b/d refinery at Lobito and a deepwater oil terminal at Barra do Dande (OGJ Online, Dec. 15, 2014).

Her appointment was controversial. Opponents of her father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, portrayed it as a way for him to retain influence in retirement after having served as president of the country for 38 years.

President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco succeeded Dos Santos as head of the political party that prevailed in elections last August. Dos Santos announced his retirement in February.

Lourenco replaced Isabel dos Santos with Carlos Saturnino, who led one of Sonangol’s operating divisions until the ousted Sonangol boss fired him late last year.