Tag : Energy Project
HOUSTON - Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE:MRO) announced today thatthe Government of Equatorial Guinea, Marathon, Noble Energy(NYSE:NBL) , GEPetrol and SONAGAS, are extending their successfulBioko Island Malaria Control Project (BIMCP) in Equatorial Guinea.The innovative private-public partnership has committed toinvesting an additional $28 million to continue its malaria controlinitiative through 2013.

One-third of the project funds will be a direct investment by theGovernment of Equatorial Guinea, and the remaining two-thirds hasbeen committed by Marathon, Noble Energy and business partners.

The announced extension project brings total spending on malariacontrol in Equatorial Guinea to $71 million. The BIMCP began in2003 as a five-year, $15.8-million initiative to address the burdenof disease attributable to malaria on the population of BiokoIsland. The project has focused on vector control through indoorresidual spraying, distribution of free drugs to high riskpopulations such as pregnant women and children under the age of15, and a comprehensive monitoring and surveillance program;universal bed net coverage was added in 2007. In 2006, the BIMCPwas expanded to the mainland of Equatorial Guinea through amulti-year commitment by the Global Fund totaling $26 million andan additional Marathon Foundation grant of $1 million, making thisprogram the only integrated malaria control project with nationwidecoverage in Africa.

"The Bioko Island Malaria Control Project demonstrates Marathon'scommitment to the communities where we operate and where we live,"said Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr., Marathon president and CEO. "Oursupport for extending and scaling up this initiative for anotherfive years reflects our dedication to improving the wellbeing ofthe citizens of Equatorial Guinea. We commend the Government ofEquatorial Guinea for encouraging the creation of this successfulprivate-public partnership that provides social benefits and makesa significant difference in the lives of Equatoguineans."

The extension of this initiative through 2013 is aimed atleveraging already documented project success and accelerating theattainment of project goals. The effort will remain focused oncapacity building of the national team to achieve long-termsustainability.

"By bringing together an integrated team of companies from theprivate sector, leading health specialists, and Equatorial Guinea'sMinistry of Health and Social Wellbeing, we have created asuccessful partnership and a malaria intervention model for thewhole of Sub-Saharan Africa," said His Excellency Obiang NguemaMbasogo President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. "We haveresponded to the call to action presented by United NationsSecretary General Ban Ki-Moon by extending our malaria controlprogram for an additional five years. I hope my country'scommitment will inspire others to commit to the fight againstmalaria so one day Africa will be malaria free."

As the BIMCP enters its fifth year in 2008, it has already achievedlife saving results (based on annual household surveys):

50 percent reduction in the number of children aged 2 to 15infected with malaria parasites,

85 percent reduction in reported malaria cases in government healthfacilities,

95 percent reduction in the number of mosquitoes infected with themalaria parasite based on specimens collected from window traps,and

73 percent of children aged 2 to 15 reported sleeping under aninsecticide treated bed net the night before the surveys, exceedingthe Abuja Declaration targets.
The $28 million co-investment will jump-start a capital campaignorchestrated by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB andMalaria, Malaria No More and the UN Foundation which leverages theleadership of the world's most prominent business leaders to raise$100 million by the end of 2010.

"Thanks to Marathon Oil Corporation's commitment, malaria is inretreat in Equatorial Guinea," said Global Business CoalitionChairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. "They already have nearly wiped outthe disease on Bioko Island. This co-investment will produce aneven deeper, closer and better financed partnership. There's everyreason to believe this will keep people more healthy throughout theentire country. I hope governments around the world are payingattention. Business is ready to be your partner in this fight. Weknow this works."

According to estimates from international organizations, prior tothe BIMCP, malaria accounted for approximately 40 percent of alldeaths among children under the age of 5 and a comparable highpercentage of all illnesses on Bioko Island. Marathon and itspartners consulted global public health experts, who concluded thata dramatic reduction in malaria transmission would significantlyimprove the health status of the population and reduce the heavyeconomic burden associated with the disease, thus contributing toeconomic development in the country.

In an effort to build the strong institutional configurationnecessary to assure the success of such a complex undertaking,Marathon, Noble Energy and business partners teamed up with theGovernment of Equatorial Guinea through the Ministry of Health andSocial Wellbeing to select an implementation team that now includesleading health specialists from Medical Care DevelopmentInternational (MCDI), One World Development Group, the MedicalResearch Council of South Africa, the Harvard School of PublicHealth, Yale University, London School of Hygiene & TropicalMedicine, Texas A&M University, and local and internationalchapters of the Red Cross.

GEPetrol was established in 2001 as the National Oil Company ofEquatorial Guinea. GEPetrol has upstream interests throughparticipation in petroleum contracts with foreign oil companies,including the Alba field, but the LNG project is the company'sfirst venture into the downstream business. GEPetrol operates as acommercial entity alongside the Ministry of Mines, Industry andEnergy, which is the State regulatory authority.

Sociedad Nacional de Gas de Guinea Ecuatorial (SONAGAS, G.E) is thestate-owned natural gas company responsible for all gas relatedprojects in Equatorial Guinea.

Noble Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged inworldwide oil and gas exploration and production. The Companyoperates primarily in the Rocky Mountains, Mid-Continent, anddeepwater Gulf of Mexico areas in the United States, with keyinternational operations offshore Israel, UK and West Africa.

Marathon is an integrated international energy company engaged inexploration and production; oil sands mining; integrated gas; andrefining, marketing and transportation operations. Marathon hasprincipal operations in the United States, Angola, Canada,Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Norway and theUnited Kingdom. Marathon is the fourth largest United States-basedintegrated oil company and the nation's fifth largest refiner.

Marathon Oil Corporation Media Relations Contacts:
Lee Warren 713-296-4103
Paul Weeditz 713-296-3910

Marathon Oil Corporation Investor Relations Contacts:
Howard Thill 713-296-4140
Chris Phillips 713-296-3213
Michol Ecklund 713-296-3919

Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051027/DATH029LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com