Deadlock over moves to end oil stand-off

TALKS between Nigerian unions and a US oil firm on ending the occupation by strikers of four oil rigs where 97 foreign workers are trapped ended in deadlock yesterday, union leaders said.

The president of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG), Peter Akpatason, said that Transocean Inc was insisting that the rigs be evacuated of all staff.

The Nigerian workers were resisting that position, insisting that they would only leave as part of a standard crew changeover because of fears they would all be sacked if the rigs are left without staff, he said.

“The meeting was blocked because management was not ready to change its rigid position. They are not ready to shift ground,” he said. Akpatason said that the talks were over for the day, but that telephone contacts would continue in the evening.

He also expressed concern at reports that Nigerian naval vessels had deployed around the rigs to try and bring an end to the standoff, which has seen 97 British, US and European workers trapped since April 19.

“We would advise against this action,” he said. He warned that union members would be forced to take “appropriate measures” if the navy moved in to evict them. He did not elaborate.

About 100 strikers have prevented the expatriate oil workers from leaving four offshore rigs owned by Houston-based Transocean since April 19.

Another 170 Nigerian third-party personnel from other companies were also being prevented from leaving. The hostage takers have blocked access to helicopter landing pads and ports on the facilities.

The strikers are protesting at a company decision to use boats instead of helicopters to ferry Nigerian staff to the rigs. They are also angered by company moves to dismiss five oil union members.