Baker Hughes International Branches, Inc.

WELCOME TO CHAD

WELCOME TO CHAD
 Baker Hughes International Branches, Inc.
WELCOME TO CHAD

COUNTRY INFORMATION
Location

Chad, officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by
Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the
southwest, and Niger to the west. Due to its distance from the sea and its largely desert climate, the country
is sometimes referred to as the "Dead Heart of Africa".

Chad is divided into multiple regions: a desert zone in the north, an arid Sahelian belt in the center and a
more fertile Sudanese savanna zone in the south. Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the largest
wetland in Chad and the second largest in Africa. Chad's highest peak is the Emi Koussi in the Sahara, and
N'Djamena, (formerly Fort-Lamy), the capital, is the largest city. Chad is home to over 200 different ethnic
and linguistic groups. Arabic and French are the official languages. Islam and Christianity are the most
widely practiced religions.

The Kome camp, where the majority of our personnel are living and working is located approximately
450 km (1 hour flight) south of N’Djamena.

Climate
Chad’s climate is tropical in the South and desert in the North. In N’Djamena the temperature may rise to
45°C from April to July. The rainy season usually starts in June and ends in October. During that period
heavy rain is frequent and violent, up to 50mm per hour, vast areas of land become flooded in the central
and Southern part of the country and road transportation becomes very difficult (there are very few tarmac
roads, most roads are dirt track).

Health
Malaria (P. Falciparum) for instance is widespread and hepatitis is endemic. There is, however no needs for
alarm and you have nothing to fear as long as you take elementary precautions.

Medicines
Not all medicines are available in Chad; it is always a good practice to bring with you some basics e.g.
antibiotics, anti-fever, anti-diarrheic, aspirin and whatever your physician thinks most appropriate. However,
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WELCOME TO CHAD

do not bring medicines that are forbidden on the project if you are coming as an employee on this project. A
list of forbidden medicines is available on page... of this document

National Security
Chad is considered as a low risk country. N’Djamena is categorized as Medium and Kome as Low Risk area.
Please consult the Baker Hughes security site for updated information.

Personal Security

N’Djamena is no more dangerous than many other capital cities. However expatriates are spotted quite
easily and can be a target. A few elementary precautions MUST be taken:

 Do not walk/jog even in daytime, walking around on foot is forbidden. All transportation is
organized through the Baker office authorize personnel, TP vehicles are not allowed.

 Do not photograph anything in town - it is forbidden. The whole city is considered a military area; all
the other airports in the country are also military areas.

 Whenever the President travels certain roads are blocked. It is called “tapis rouge “(red carpet). Never
attempt to pass through; the local military will be very aggressive on such occasions.

 Do not hang around the presidential palace; vehicles which stop near the President’s palace or
residence are shot at.

 Do not carry visible valuables while going out (conspicuous jewellery, nice looking watches, cameras,
laptops bag).

 If you get out of a vehicle to enter a shop and stay for more than a few seconds outside, locals will try
to sell you goods, food etc., you will find yourself surrounded very quickly.

Religion
Chad is a religiously diverse country. The 1993 census found that 54% of Chadians were Muslim, 20%
Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant, 10% animist, and 3% atheist. Muslims are largely concentrated in northern
and eastern Chad, and animists and Christians live primarily in southern Chad and Guéra. The constitution
provides for a secular state and guarantees religious freedom; different religious communities generally co-
exist without problems.
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WELCOME TO CHAD

Currency
Called the CFA Franc 1 Euro = 656 CFA; 1 US$ = 450 CFA (approximately).
Please, bring some cash in Euros or USD with you (suggested 50 Euros) just in case you need to buy
miscellaneous items in N’Djamena. You would not normally need cash, since meals, board and lodging is
provided by Baker Hughes. There are a limited number of ATM machines available in Chad and it is very
difficult to use credit cards. The BAKER HUGHES office in N’Djamena will not provide any cash
advances.

Electricity
Chad uses 220 V, 50 Hz however the ESSO camp in Kome uses a US power supply i.e. 110 V, 60 Hz. If you
are coming from outside the USA carry a set of adaptors plugs at all times.

Communication
Kome offices are connected to Esso server however the bandwidth availability is limited. In N’djamena,
internet is provided by a local company and the connection is very slow. Telephone calls outside Chad are
very expensive (from 3 to 4 USD a minute).

Driving
 No visitor/staff are allowed to drive in Chad outside the Kome/ESSO oilfield.
 All drivers on the Operations site need to have a valid driving license for Chad complete an online
Defensive Driving training (SMAART DRIVE) and have passed a Commentary Drive (CD) with a
qualified instructor, before driving a Company vehicle.
 Drivers on the Production site will be trained by ExxonMobil instructors prior being allowed to
drive.
 Baker Hughes Mandatory Driver assessment trainings are to be completed by all identified
employees

Seat Belts
Drivers are responsible to verify that ALL vehicles occupants are wearing the seat belt before moving the
vehicle.

Speed Limits
There are various speed limits (from 10km/h to 50km/h) in the project area. The maximum speed is 50km/h.
Drivers are expected to obey the driving rules at all times.
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WELCOME TO CHAD

Summary
- Get a visa for Chad. Contact your respective secretary department or travel agents.

- Obtain your Exxon Malaria visa and keep copy, see in http://www.travax.com/MalariaVisa/
- Complete the Malaria departure checklist
- Read and sign the Malaria Chemoprophylaxis from that you will find on the last page of this guide and send it to you
contact person in Chad.

- Prior to your departure, please send your flight details to Robert (robert.houzibe@bakerhughes.com ) copy
(kme.bpc.sr.acct.mgrs@exxonmobil.com) and get a feedback from them to make sure you are expected.

- Bring your International Vaccination Booklet (yellow fever vaccination is compulsory to enter Chad).

- Take Malaria Prevention treatment before and after coming to Chad as recommended in the leaflet coming with the
different drugs.

- N’Djamena Airport is infested with mosquitoes, make sure you do wear long sleeves and spray yourself with
mosquito repellent.

- Bring long-sleeve-shirts and long trousers (for Malaria prevention purposes, no short clothing is allowed in the camp
/ office / rig site, this is an Esso policy).

- Bring cash in Euros (suggested 50 Euros), no ATMs available in Chad, credit cards not accepted.

- Bring 12 passport pictures.

- If you are expected to drive, bring your national driving license and an international driving license (to obtain the
Chadian one) Driving is only allowed after you have successfully passed the driving tests (Esso/Baker defensive
driving training).

- In N’Djamena, in case of emergency contact Baker Hughes at: 22520961/66281556 or 66277300, 63900910,
(N’Djamena Staff mobile phones).

Abdallah Nour (Driver): 66394652

- In N’Djamena in case of medical emergency call the SOS clinic emergency number
(235) 66292894