Statoil Ready to Resume Ordinary Operations in Algeria

Statoil said it is ready to resume ordinary operations at In Amenas, Algeria, after the implementation of security measures that will minimise the risk of another attack to the plant. 

“The decision to resume ordinary operations also at In Amenas is the result of a thorough and stepwise process of identifying necessary security measures, implementing them and validating that they are in place and operational,” Lars Christian Bacher, executive vice president for Development & Production International (DPI), said in a note released on Monday.

Algeria, which is the only Maghreb country along with Morocco to have kept rising since late 90s, maintained a good reputation among oil and gas investors till the attack carried out in January 2013. In that occasion, forty people lost their lives. 

Statoil’s decision comes after the corporate executive committee approved the return of temporary manning to the plant back in June. The temporary staff prepared for the resumption of ordinary operation. 

“We will now, in cooperation with our partners, continue our systematic work to maintain the high level of the security measures, to ensure that we have a good understanding of the security threats and adjust our security measures as required,” Bacher concluded.