ExxonMobil says strike cuts output in Nigeria
ExxonMobil's Nigerian affiliate said Monday that a five day strike by white collar employees had caused output losses.
A spokesman for Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) said the company was attempting to open talks with the strikers. He would not disclose the volume of the loss. Its production is normally about 780,000 barrels per day.
"There has been some partial shut-in. But we are trying to reopen negotiations with the striking workers in order to resolve the matter," the company spokesman told AFP.
Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria began the strike on Wednesday after pay and conditions negotiations with the management stalled.
Union officials had warned the strike would "cripple exports" Nigerian oil exports. ExxonMobil is the second largest oil company in Nigeria after Royal Dutch Shell.
Nigeria is Africa's biggest producer with a daily output of 2.1 million barrels but unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta has cut exports by a quarter since January 2006.
Last week, Shell said it had reduced output by 165,000 bpd following the sabotage of its supply pipelines to the Bonny export terminal in southern Nigeria.
AFP
