Charles Tchen (born 17 September 1950 [citation needed]) is a Gabonese engineer and businessman. He is currently the CEO of Independent Petroleum Consultants (IPC), and honorary consul of the Netherlands in Gabon.[1][2] He is an administrator for Shell Gabon.[3]

Charles Tchen
Born17 September 1950
NationalityGabonese
OccupationPetroleum Engineer
TitleHis Excellency
Parents
  • Father: Tchen Son Tsin
  • Mother: Wora Ernestine
Relatives

Early life and education

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Tchen was born in Omboue, Gabon. He studied in Germany and graduated in 1972.[4]

Career

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Tchen began his career at the oil company Shell in 1972 as a mechanical engineer and worked for Shell in Gabon, the Netherlands, and Tunisia.[4] He eventually served as Deputy General Director and then as Directeur Général Délégué (akin to Chief Operating Officer) of Shell Gabon.[5] Following his retirement from Shell, he became CEO of Independent Petroleum Consultants (IPC).[1] He is also a representative of Ophir Energy.[6]

Since 1989, Tchen has been an honorary consul for the Netherlands and has worked to expand economic relations between the Netherlands and Gabon.[7] He has headed the Union of Gabonese Petroleum Engineers (Union des pétroliers gabonais, UPEGA) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (Société des ingénieurs du pétrole).[8] Tchen has also been involved with a number of projects such as the plantation in the south of Gabon. He is also the owner of a hotel named Olako close to Port-Gentil, in the small town of Omboue.

Personal life

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Tchen lives in Gabon. He is the cousin both of diplomat and politician Jean Ping, and the late leader of the Gabonese opposition party Parti gabonais du progrès, Joseph Rendjambé [fr].

Distinctions

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Tchen has received the following awards:

  • A distinction at the 17th Africa Oil week for Distinguished Contribution To The African Industry 2010.[9]
  • The title of Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau by the Netherlands for his humanitarian work.[10]
  • The title of Commander of the National Order of Merit by Gabon (L'Ordre National du Merite Gabonais au Grade de Commandeur).[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Charles Tchen" on CNBC Africa: The Gabon Energy Sector Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Libreville, 02/06/2013 (French)
  2. ^ ""Charles Tchen" Honorary Consul in Libreville". Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Charles Tchen": 50th Anniversary of the Gamba Oil Field discovery , Shell Gabon, 13/10/2013 (French)
  4. ^ a b "Charles Tchen" Ophir Representative on InfoPlus Gabon, Libreville, 19/02/2008 (French)
  5. ^ "Charles Tchen" Ophir Representative on InfoPlus Gabon, Libreville, 19/02/2008 (French[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Charles Tchen" Sterling Oil and Gas, La Lettre du Continent N°602, 23/12/2010 (French)
  7. ^ "Charles Tchen" Ophir Representative on InfoPlus Gabon[permanent dead link], Libreville, 19/02/2008 (French)
  8. ^ "Charles Tchen": Ophir Representative on InfoPlus Gabon, Libreville, 19/02/2008 (French)
  9. ^ The 17th Africa Oil Week, 5th November 2010, Cape Town, South Africa[1]
  10. ^ "Uri Rosenthal" Speech at the 2012 Honorary Consults Conference Archived 11 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine Esbjerg, 12/06/2012
  11. ^ L'Union Newspaper page 3, Libreville, 07/08/2012 (French) [2]
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