Assala Energy, one of Gabon's largest oil companies, has been through a tumultuous period. Its original owner, the US asset management giant Carlyle, agreed to sell the company to French oil firm Maurel Prom in August 2023.
However, the state-owned Gabon Oil Company then jumped in to exercise its 'right of pre-emption' and acquire Assala, which produces around 20-25 of Gabon's oil. The 1.3bn buyout was completed last June.
Despite questions over whether the GOC has the expertise to manage an oil exploration and production company, Assala Gabon's managing director Edgar Mba Ognane tells African Business that the company's fundamentals remain strong.