Total opens new service stations

Advertorial

The event on 23 September was both eagerly awaited and well attended: representatives of key ministries, members of Chad’s employers’ federation, municipal authorities, business leaders… and the diplomatic corps, led by the French ambassador to Chad. By opening three new service stations (Hamama, Bongor and Ndjari), Total Marketing Chad stepped up investments that contribute greatly to the socio-economic development drive led by the authorities in N’Djamena.

This investment illustrates the bet on a cleaner business environment and private-sector development. For the development policy led by President Idriss Deby Itno, it is clear that foreign investment contributes fully to the country’s take-off and emergence.

In his speech, the managing director of Total Chad thanked the French ambassador for her support for the private sector, particularly French companies and their partners in Chad.

The three new stations opened about a year after a previous wave of three, in Moundou, Mongo and Sarh. A promise kept, it brings Total’s network in Chad to 12 stations. And the company is not stopping there: four more stations will open by the end of the year, for a total of 16.

These investments will bring considerable benefits in product availability and quality and in customer satisfaction, as the mayor noted in her speech. Beyond that, the social dimension is essential — for example, stable jobs for young people. Total also places particular emphasis on skills transfer through training: a young Chadian starting at the pump can climb the ladder through a career plan leading to station manager, and even owner of the business after a few years.

The Chadian government insists on these commitments, which are part of jointly agreed specifications. They also cover corporate social responsibility (CSR): road-safety awareness, protection of the environment and of people, the fight against malaria and HIV, poverty reduction, promoting children’s schooling and partnerships with universities.

As a concrete example, Total plans to build a heavy-goods-vehicle driving school to train drivers from across the sub-region. These elements form the basis of the agreements between the state and the Total group.