Charles Tchen


Charles Tchen is a Gabonese engineer and businessman. He is currently the CEO of Independent Petroleum Consultants, and honorary consul of the Netherlands in Gabon. He is an administrator for Shell Gabon.

Early life and education

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

Career

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. He eventually served as Deputy General Director and then as Directeur Général Délégué of Shell Gabon. Following his retirement from Shell, he became CEO of Independent Petroleum Consultants. He is also a representative of Ophir Energy.
Since 1989, Tchen has been an honorary consul for the Netherlands and has worked to expand economic relations between the Netherlands and Gabon. He has headed the Union of Gabonese Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Petroleum Engineers. 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

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 Proges,.

Distinctions

Tchen has received the following awards: