British Petroleum and Statoil deport their workers from Algeria

Foreign companies operating in hydrocarbons sector asked Algerian authorities for raising danger allowance and deporting a part of their employees. They described this request as a “preventive” measure although Algeria proved its military capacity to have control on the situation.

Oil companies led by British Petroleum and Statoil did not miss the opportunity to announce the deportation of a part of their employees in Algeria. This comes as a Khribcha base was attack a year after its employees had resumed work in the Tiguentourine base. The latter was attacked by terrorists, two years ago.

Statoil Sunday said it plans to erduce the number of its employees in its facilities in Algeria as its gas plant in the area of In Salah was attacked.

Many foreign and national websites quoted a spokesman for the company, saying they will reduce the number of employees in Statoil’s plants in Algeria. This would done in the next few weeks and shifts workers will not be changed. Yet, he did not precise the number of employees for “security reasons.”

“Four days only passed since the attack on In Salah. Production started again but we believe that this is the right decision in the current situation. The number of employees will be reduced in In Salah and In Amenass plants as well as Statoil’s operation center in Hassi Messaoud,” he said.

British Petroleum said it will withdraw all its employees from In Salah and In Amenass plants in the next two weeks after Khrichba base attack.