Maniema Province Ushers in New Era with Oil Tax Agreement
A new era is emerging for Maniema Province following a significant development on Monday, October 21. Oil companies and the provincial government signed a historic memorandum of understanding to establish a conventional tax on petroleum products. This tax, set at 300 Congolese francs per liter, aims to fund ambitious projects to improve the province’s infrastructure.
The revenue generated from this tax will be allocated to road infrastructure projects, enhance public services, and stimulate the local economy.
The decision, reached after extensive negotiations, was met with enthusiasm from all stakeholders. During the signing ceremony, which included the president of the Association of Oil Companies for the Development of Congo (APEDECO), the president of the provincial assembly, the president of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC), and representatives from civil society, a spokesperson for the oil companies expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“It is a very positive impression; after lengthy discussions between APEDECO and the provincial government, we have finally reached a compromise with today’s agreement,” he stated.
To ensure transparency in fund management, Governor Moussa Kabwankubi confirmed that all conventional taxes will be centralized in an account managed by the FEC.
“All conventional taxes—whether from the 3T sector, gold, cigarettes, or beverages—will be deposited into the FEC account. The FEC will manage these funds, and any disbursement will require four simultaneous signatures.
This means that even in an emergency, the governor will not be able to withdraw funds from this account without prior agreement,” he explained.
This initiative has also received praise from civil society, which views the conventional tax as a vital opportunity to develop the province’s road network and strengthen connections with other regions of the country.
