This Day in History: 10 October 2003
The first Chadian oil pipeline was opened by Chad President Idriss Deby on 10 October. Thus the small West African republic of Chad joined the group of oil-producing African nations. The opening of this pipeline raised hopes for many of the country's impoverished population. The US$3.7 billion oil pipeline project was viewed with concern by some international observers who feared that, in the absence of reform and of transparent governance, wealth generated from it might not reach the impoverished.