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Oil firms evacuate non-essential workers from Algeria Oil firms evacuate non-essential workers from Algeria
(about 1 hour later)
International oil companies were evacuating hundreds of non-essential workers from Algeria on Friday as militants said they planned further attacks on foreign installations. International oil companies began evacuating hundreds of non-essential workers from Algeria on Friday as militants said they planned further attacks on foreign installations.
A spokesman for the Mulathameen Brigade, a group that claimed responsibility for the mass kidnapping at In Amenas this week, called on Algerians to "keep away from the installations of foreign companies, because we will suddenly attack where no one would expect it".A spokesman for the Mulathameen Brigade, a group that claimed responsibility for the mass kidnapping at In Amenas this week, called on Algerians to "keep away from the installations of foreign companies, because we will suddenly attack where no one would expect it".
The threat was reported by the Mauritanian news agency ANI, which is in frequent contact with militant groups in the area. The threat was reported by the Mauritanian news agency ANI, which is in frequent contact with militant groups in the area.
BP, which operates the In Amenas gas facility with Norway's Statoil and Algeria's state-owned Sonatrach, began evacuating workers from the area on Thursday, with more flights planned for the coming days. BP, which operates the In Amenas gas facility with Norway's Statoil and Algeria's state-owned Sonatrach, began evacuating workers from the area on Thursday, with more flights planned for the coming days.
"Three flights left Algeria yesterday carrying a total of 11 BP employees alongside several hundred staff from other companies," it said. "A fourth plane is expected to transport further staff out of the country today [Friday] and we will arrange further flights as necessary." "Three flights left Algeria yesterday carrying a total of 11 BP employees alongside several hundred staff from other companies," it said. "A fourth plane is expected to transport further staff out of the country and we will arrange further flights as necessary."
BP stressed it was a "precautionary and temporary measure". BP stressed that it was a "precautionary and temporary measure".
Experts said the attack would force oil companies to increase their security protocols and minimise personnel in the region.Experts said the attack would force oil companies to increase their security protocols and minimise personnel in the region.
Algeria has attracted billions of dollars in foreign investment in an oil and gas industry that supplies up to 25% of the European Union's gas. Thousands of foreign workers are employed in its fields, which are protected by the military as well as private security.Algeria has attracted billions of dollars in foreign investment in an oil and gas industry that supplies up to 25% of the European Union's gas. Thousands of foreign workers are employed in its fields, which are protected by the military as well as private security.
BP, Statoil, Italy's Eni, Spain's Cepsa and Repsol and the US company Total are among the key players. Because security has previously been so effective, oil companies have ventured into the more remote and challenging areas that border Mali and Libya.BP, Statoil, Italy's Eni, Spain's Cepsa and Repsol and the US company Total are among the key players. Because security has previously been so effective, oil companies have ventured into the more remote and challenging areas that border Mali and Libya.
The hostage-taking has implications across the region. Offshore reserves of oil and natural gas have been found in Mauritania, where the Chinguetti and Tiof fields are expected to yield millions of barrels. International companies are starting to return to Libya, which has several installations close to the Algerian border. In Niger, uranium is the big draw, especially for the French nuclear energy industry. The hostage-taking has implications across the region. Offshore reserves of oil and natural gas have been found in Mauritania, where the Chinguetti and Tiof fields are expected to yield millions of barrels. International companies are starting to return to Libya, which has several installations close to the Algerian border. In Niger uranium is the big draw, especially for the French nuclear energy industry.
Jon Marks, north Africa expert and chairman of Cross-Border Information, which publishes African Energy magazine, said: "When these events are reflected on by the players – the international oil companies (IOCs), the governments – over the next few weeks, clearly the very fact this attack has taken place will have real resonance. Right the way across the region, IOCs are going to start evaluating their attitudes to risk.Jon Marks, north Africa expert and chairman of Cross-Border Information, which publishes African Energy magazine, said: "When these events are reflected on by the players – the international oil companies (IOCs), the governments – over the next few weeks, clearly the very fact this attack has taken place will have real resonance. Right the way across the region, IOCs are going to start evaluating their attitudes to risk.
"In Libya, people have only very gingerly been making their way back in. You're seeing the opening up of countries like Mali and Mauritania. Algeria has been absolutely the cornerstone of the European Union's gas supply. And the Algerians reacted in the way they did because the military was not going to allow this to happen on its patch. "In Libya people have only very gingerly been making their way back in. You're seeing the opening up of countries like Mali and Mauritania. Algeria has been absolutely the cornerstone of the European Union's gas supply. And the Algerians reacted in the way they did because the military was not going to allow this to happen on its patch.
"So you can honestly say there will be a major security lockdown in Algeria, and although you are talking about wide open spaces, there will be a lot of projection of firepower and men around the major facilities.""So you can honestly say there will be a major security lockdown in Algeria, and although you are talking about wide open spaces, there will be a lot of projection of firepower and men around the major facilities."
Claire Spencer, head of the Middle East and north Africa programme at Chatham House, said: "The assumption has been over the last decade that all the security provision in place – the Algerian security forces and private security guards employed by IOCs – is enough to put off any attack. This shows clearly it isn't sufficient." Claire Spencer, the head of the Middle East and north Africa programme at Chatham House, said: "The assumption has been over the last decade that all the security provision in place – the Algerian security forces and private security guards employed by IOCs – is enough to put off any attack. This shows clearly it isn't sufficient."
She said any review of security should look at the dynamics of the region, including the 30,000 Tuareg tribespeople living on both sides of the Malian -Algerian Sahara border whose interests "socio-economic and political have largely not been addressed in the past". She said any review of security should look at the dynamics of the region, including the 30,000 Tuareg living on both sides of the Mali–Algeria Sahara border whose interests "socio-economic and political have largely not been addressed in the past".
Catherine Hunter, a senior analyst at IHS Energy, said remote oil and gas fields offeed "high-profile and prestigious targets, with the dual benefits – from an Islamist perspective – of damaging reputation and revenues of the host government as well as the interests of largely western foreign investors". Catherine Hunter, a senior analyst at IHS Energy, said remote oil and gas fields offered "high-profile and prestigious targets, with the dual benefits – from an Islamist perspective – of damaging reputation and revenues of the host government as well as the interests of largely western foreign investors".
The likelihood of further attacks was high, she said, especially in Libya because of disarray in the armed forces and also recent incidents of civil oil field raids. The likelihood of further attacks was high, she said, especially in Libya because of disarray in the armed forces and also recent incidents of civil oilfield raids.