Seypec to spend R5.3m to boost SDF’s fuel capacity |24 June 2022

Brigadier Rosette and Mrs Romain exchange documents after the signing (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

By Patrick Joubert

The Seychelles Petroleum Company (Seypec) will spend R5.3 million to boost the Seychelles Defence Forces’ fuel capacity.

This comes after the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a framework of cooperation and assistance between them.

According to the terms of the MoU, Seypec will spend R5.3 million to support SDF to increase its fuel capacity at the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) base to 30,000 litres of motor gasoline and gas oil, provide a 6,000-litre aircraft fuel mobile bowser for the Seychelles Air Force (SAF) and set up a fuel storage tank of 40,000 litres of gas oil for Assumption Island Coast Guard Station.

The MoU was signed by the Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier Michael Rosette and the acting chief executive of Seypec, Sarah Romain, in a brief ceremony held yesterday at the SDF head quarters, Bel Eau, in the presence of other SDF officers and SDF council members and staff and board members of Seypec.

The equipment to be donated will ensure SDF can refuel its ships, vehicles and aircraft swiftly on a twenty-four-hour basis for operations while having a refuelling facility at Assumption Island will permit SCG vessels to sustain operations in the South West part of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), particularly in the Aldabra, Assumption, Astove and Cosmoledo areas for a longer period without having to come back to Mahé to refuel.

On the other hand, SDF will, whenever required, assist and support Seypec by providing security for its tankers while operating within the Seychelles waters and the region.

Delivering a few words for the occasion, Mrs Romain said that Seypec is proud and happy to assist SDF to expand its capabilities that will benefit not only the company but the country as whole.

She added that the MoU will serve to consolidate their partnership in strengthening national surveillance and maritime security.

She noted that the partnership is vital for Seypec taking into account that the country and Seypec operations on other vessels passing through or calling at Port Victoria, are located close to the piracy zone and that the company will continue to support SDF.

“Therefore protection against piracy is extremely important for us because we were one of the entities that witnessed the detrimental effect of piracy a couple of years back when piracy was on the rise,” said Mrs Romain, who noted that the piracy situation back then caused vessels to detour from Port Victoria which caused a loss of revenue for both Seypec and the country from the sale of fuel to international vessels.

Speaking on cooperation and assistance from Seypec, Brigadier Rosette said that having those facilities will allow the SCG and the SAF to intensify their efforts in the fight against maritime crimes in our EEZ. He noted that SDF was honoured to have Seypec as one of its partners and that it will be counting on the petroleum firm’s support in the future in maintaining and operating those facilities.

“Acting CEO, you can rest assured that the generous donation by Seypec will be put to good use. The SDF looks forward to continuing to partner with Seypec for many years to come,” stated Brigadier Rosette, who thanked Seypec for its assistance.

Patrick Joubert