Update: Attack on Statoil facility in Algeria

At approximately 06.00 local time a munitions attack was launched against the Krechba plant. The information thus far obtained indicates that the attack was carried out by use of a vehicle and a mobile weapon firing explosives at the plant. The attackers then fled the scene. In total, three strikes were identified at the plant.

It has been reported that the Algerian military reportedly has control of the area. As a result Statoil’s emergency organisation has been demobilised, however its Joint Venture and the partners continue to monitor the situation in cooperation with relevant authorities.

In total, there were just above 600 employees at the plant at the time of the attack, three of them from Statoil. Thankfully, it has been confirmed that none of the employees at the plant were injured, and the three Statoil employees are safe inside the plant. At this time there are no plans to evacuate the facility.

Statoil’s top priority is the security of its employees. Following the In Amenas attack in 2013, the security of plants in Algeria has been tightened, and ordinary operations were resumed during 2014.

In accordance with its procedure’s Statoil will undertake a review of the attack, and together with the partners evaluate the necessity of any further security measures at the plants in Algeria.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/hse/18032016/update-attack-on-statoil-facility-in-algeria/