Norway's Statoil to evacuate staff from Algeria

18 January 2013, 00:11 (GMT+04:00)

See Also:

PM: Algerian president's health improving
Algeria President Bouteflika in hospital
Armenia and Algeria abolish visa requirements for persons with diplomatic and service passports
IRI Majlis Speaker: Current regional crises due to foreign interferences
Militants attack oil pipeline in Algeria, two dead
Fourth Norwegian national confirmed dead in Algeria - Statoil
Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan condemns terrorist attacks in south Algeria
US wants clarity about attack in Algeria; FBI probe opened

E-mail.
Print.

Norwegian energy group Statoil was to evacuate 40 personnel from Algeria as soon possible, chief executive Helge Lund said Thursday, dpa reported.

Reacting to the news reports that some hostages had been killed in an Algerian military operation at a gas complex Lund said: "These reports have not been verified. But it means that we don't know if all our colleagues will come home."

Nine Norwegian nationals employed at the gas facility attacked by Islamist gunmen in south-east Algeria remained unaccounted for, Lund said. Eight other Statoil employees were safe, Lund added.

Statoil has set up a crisis centre for families and next of kin in Bergen, western Norway.