Talisman dismisses SPLA threats

Canadian oil company Talisman Energy said on Monday it would sell its stake in a controversial Sudanese project in order to keep its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, news agencies reported. If a bill recently passed in the US House of Representatives - the Sudan Peace Act - became law, companies operating in Sudan would be required to fully disclose the nature of their activities there before being listed on US stock markets. Talisman President Jim Buckee was quoted by the ‘Calgary Post’ newspaper as saying such a law would “send a big chill” throughout Wall Street and deter foreign investment in Sudan. Buckee was quoted as saying at a Canadian energy symposium in Calgary that the company would take whatever steps necessary to ensure that its ability to reach US investors was not compromised. “A company our size or similar, you need to maintain that access,” he said.

Meanwhile, Talisman spokesman David Mann dismissed threats made in a Sunday paper by the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), John Garang, against oil companies operating in the country: “If you go back four years, you’ll find the identical interview,” AFP quoted Mann as saying. “We’re aware of these threats, but ultimately Talisman thinks oil development is a good thing for Sudan and the peace process,” he added.