Austria's OMV Moves Workers In Tunisia Over Gas Field Protests
ALGIERS, May 4 (Reuters) - Austrian energy company OMV has taken around 700 non-essential staff and contractors out of projects in southern Tunisia after protesters demanding jobs threatened to disrupt operations, the company said on Thursday.
Protesters in Tataouine near the Libyan border, where OMV and Italy's ENI have operations, have been camped out in the Sahara desert and threatening to blockade roads used by companies for their oil and gas fields.
"Approximately 700 non-essential field staff and contractors were safely demobilized on 29 April from both OMV operations and the Nawara Project in South Tunisia," the company said in a statement.
It said production had not been affected, although supplies were being limited because road transport of people and equipment was suspended for about ten days.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to take further steps to maintain safety and security," it said.
A group of around 1,000 young men have camped out in the Sahara as part of the protest, demanding 20 percent of oil riches go back into the local economy and jobs. Tunisian officials are engaged in negotiations but there has been no agreement so far.
The demonstrations are the latest unrest to trouble Tunisia's government which is trying to enact economic reforms to reduce public spending and create more job growth, but it has struggled to make progress.
The IMF postponed payment of a $320 million tranche of Tunisia's loan programme due in December because of a lack of progress over reforms. It was released in April after the IMF and Tunisia agreed to a plan for priorities.
Held up as a model for democratic transition after its 2011 revolt against Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has free elections and a new constitution. But it has struggled to address the joblessness, marginalisation and corruption that helped trigger the uprising six years ago.
More economically damaging protests would come at a tough time. Tourism is just recovering from Islamist militant attacks two years ago, and the state phosphate business is back on track after several years of protests there slashed output.
(Reporting by Patrick Markey; Editing by Mark Potter)
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- Weatherford CEO's Rebound Plan Relies On Getting Smaller
- Iran Says Oil Market Is Too Tight For US Zero Exports Target
- China's Squeezed 'Teapots' Eye Petchem Path To Riches
- Baker Hughes: US Drillers Add Oil Rigs For Second Week In Three
- Venezuela Hands China More Oil Presence, But No Mention Of New Funds
- ExxonMobil Racks Up Discoveries in Guyana Block Eyed by Chevron
- Oil Market Sentiment Has Improved Significantly
- EU, US Eye Collaboration on Nuclear Materials
- EU Electricity Export to Ukraine Up 94 Percent in Two Years
- China Coal Output Falls for First Time since Government Ordered More
- USA Driving Activity to Increase to All-Time Highs
- BP Pulse Buys One of Europe's Largest Truck Stops
- UK CCUS Plans Outdated: Think Tank
- TC Energy to Sell Prince Rupert Gas Pipeline Project to First Nation
- I Squared Eyes Full Ownership of Europe Gas Storage Firm
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- EIA Drops 2024 Henry Hub Gas Price Forecast
- EIA and Standard Chartered Offer Up Latest Oil Price Predictions
- Red Sea Region Sees Another Watershed Incident
- Chevron Oil Project in Kazakhstan to Cost $48.5B
- OPEC Voices Encouragement after IEA Affirms Support for Oil Security
- Biden Govt Bares Strategy for Freight Charging, Hydrogen Fueling Infra
- Ukraine Hits Third Russian Refinery In Escalating Drone Strikes
- Rystad Looks at the Buzz Around White Hydrogen
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Is Peak Oil Demand Close?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Reveal Latest Oil Price Forecasts
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Rystad Forecasts Net Production of Top Permian Producers in 2024
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension