IRAQ: The head of Iraq's state-run South Oil Company says Exxon Mobil has carried out a "major evacuation" of its staff and BP has evacuated 20 percent of its staff
Record ID:
344553
IRAQ: The head of Iraq's state-run South Oil Company says Exxon Mobil has carried out a "major evacuation" of its staff and BP has evacuated 20 percent of its staff
- Title: IRAQ: The head of Iraq's state-run South Oil Company says Exxon Mobil has carried out a "major evacuation" of its staff and BP has evacuated 20 percent of its staff
- Date: 18th June 2014
- Summary: BASRA, IRAQ (JUNE 18, 2014) (REUTERS) SECURITY AT ENTRANCE TO ZUBAIR OILFIELD STOPPING CARS IRAQI POLICEMAN BEHIND MACHINE GUN ON TOP OF PICKUP TRUCK STANDING GUARD AT ENTRANCE TO OILFIELD POLICEMAN MANNING CHECKPOINT/ OIL STORAGE TANKS IN BACKGROUND CONVOY OF ITALIAN ENI OIL COMPANY STAFF DRIVING THROUGH CHECKPOINT/ OIL FACILITIES IN BACKGROUND SECURITY VEHICLE WITH OIL EXPERTS ARMED IRAQI SOLDIER MANNING CHECKPOINT/ OIL FACILITIES IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF OIL FACILITIES AT ZUBAIR OILFIELD EXTERIOR OF SOUTH OIL COMPANY HEAD OF IRAQ'S STATE-RUN SOUTH OIL COMPANY, DHIYA JAFFAR, SITTING AT DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF IRAQ'S STATE-RUN SOUTH OIL COMPANY, DHIYA JAFFAR, SAYING: "Exxon Mobil has evacuated some of their staff and they are now doing a reassessment to come back and stay at their work positions. With regards to world service companies like Schlumberger, Weatherford, and Baker Hughes, we have visited them and inspected their situation and we found out that 100 percent of their staff are still here and they do not have any plans to evacuate staff." IRAQI AND SOUTH OIL COMPANY (SOC) FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF IRAQ'S STATE-RUN SOUTH OIL COMPANY, DHIYA JAFFAR, SAYING: "The head of Eni in Iraq, Mr Lorenzo has affirmed that 100 percent of their staff will be here and that Eni are not considering evacuating. With regards to Lukoil, Shell and BP companies, they have taken measures to keep 60 percent of staff but after discussions with them, they said that they will not implement that plan and instead they will keep 80 percent of their staff." HEAD OF IRAQ'S STATE-RUN SOUTH OIL COMPANY, DHIYA JAFFAR, SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF IRAQ'S STATE-RUN SOUTH OIL COMPANY, DHIYA JAFFAR, SAYING: "Our plan for this month is 2,700 million barrels a day , but we are trying to raise it to 2,760 million (bpd) to help raise morale of the people and give them the impression that the oil industry is safe and will not be affected in any way." IRAQI SOLDIER RIDING ON TOP OF PICK UP TRUCK WITH MACHINE GUN POLICEMAN STANDING GUARD NEAR SIGN READING (Arabic) "ZUBAIR MUSHREF STATION" / OIL FACILITIES AND OIL FLAME ON BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF OIL FACILITIES
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABT4VV31NCLIOR7RLWZ0UV9ADN
- Story Text: The head of Iraq's state-run South Oil Company Dhiya Jaffar said on Wednesday (June 18) that Exxon Mobil has carried out a "major evacuation" of its staff and BP had evacuated 20 percent of its staff.
"Exxon Mobil has evacuated some of their staff and they are now doing a reassessment to come back and stay at their work positions. With regards to world service companies like Schlumberger, Weatherford, and Baker Hughes, we have visited them and inspected their situation and we found out that 100 percent of their staff are still here and they do not have any plans to evacuate staff," Jaffar told Reuters.
The companies, which are based in southern Iraq where the government is still in firm control, were not immediately available for comment.
He said ENI, Schlumberger, Weatherford, and Baker Hughes had no plans to evacuate staff from Iraq following the lightning advance of Sunni militants in the country's north.
"The head of Eni in Iraq, Mr Lorenzo has affirmed that 100 percent of their staff will be here and that Eni are not considering evacuating. With regards to Lukoil, Shell and BP companies, they have taken measures to keep 60 percent of staff but after discussions with them, they said that they will not implement that plan and instead they will keep 80 percent of their staff," said Jaffar.
He criticised the moves, as the areas where oil is produced for export are mainly in the Shi'ite south and far from the fighting.
"Our plan for this month is 2,700 million barrels a day, but we are trying to raise it to 2,760 million (bpd) to help raise morale of the people and give them the impression that the oil industry is safe and will not be affected in any way," he added.
Iraq has tightened security and deployed extra troops around oil infrastructure and oilfields to help protect its vital energy industry from Sunni Muslim insurgents who have gained ground over the past week, a senior Iraqi security official said.
Basra, the main city in the far south at the edge of the Gulf, has enormous strategic importance as the hub for oil exports accounting for over 95 percent of government revenue.
Iraq is now dependent on oil exports from the south after Sunni militants attacked the northern Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline in March. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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