Norway’s total aid to Africa is small compared to the amount paid by the state-owned oil company Equinor to the four African countries in which it operates, reports Panoramanyheter.

Last year, Equinor paid a total of NOK 32.7 billion to the governments of Angola, Algeria, Libya, and Nigeria. The amount includes taxes, production fees, and other charges, as well as bonuses and the host governments’ share of production. Direct taxes to the governments of these countries amounted to NOK 8.7 billion, according to The company’s 2022 annual report..

Equinor’s tax contributions to state finances are therefore larger than the amount disbursed from the accounts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norad to African countries last year. NOK 7.8 billion of the aid budget was earmarked for assistance to Africa in 2022. Only a small portion of Norwegian aid (NOK 669 million) goes directly to the public sector in the African countries receiving support from Norway.

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