Workers extend strike at CNR's Ivory Coast oil and gas fields

ESPOIR

11/02/2017 10:46

ABIDJAN, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Workers have extended a strike 
indefinitely at Canadian Natural Resources' (CNR)  CNQ.TO  
Baobab and Espoir oil and gas fields in Ivory Coast, the SISPOO 
oil workers union said on Saturday.  
    A 72-hour strike was called early on Wednesday over the 
firing of workers and was extended on Friday after the parties 
failed to reach an agreement.  
    "As no solution is in sight, we hereby announce the 
extension of the strike until the conflict is resolved," SISPOO 
said in a letter to CNR on Friday.  
    The union told Reuters on Wednesday that no gas was coming 
from any of CNR's platforms, and that output from those sites 
represented about 30 percent of Ivorian oil and gas production.  
    CNR could not be immediately reached for comment on 
Saturday. 
    The company produces about 70 million cubic feet of natural 
gas per day in Ivory Coast, which is critical for supplying the 
West African nation's gas-fired power plants.  
    It also pumps between 40,000 and 45,000 barrels of crude oil 
per day, mainly for export. 
 
 (Reporting by Joe Bavier; Writing by Edward McAllister; Editing 
by Louise Ireland) 
 ((edward.mcallister@thomsonreuters.com; +221 33 864 5782; 
Reuters Messaging: edward.mcallister.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: IVORYCOAST OIL/STRIKE