PENGASSAN rejects NAOC sale, plans shutdown
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has threatened to withdraw its members from all offices and oil fields over the purchase of Eni Nigeria and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited by Oando Plc.
The Branch Chairman, Agip Group, PENGASSAN, in Port Harcourt, Eyong Survival, disclosed this while speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday.
The association kicked against the acquisition of the oil firms by Oando without interfacing or pre-informing the union.
It also said over 3,000 indigenous workers might lose their jobs over the sale of Eni Nigeria
Survival said the union had met with the company’s management when the sale of NAOC JV assets to Oando filtered into the public, but that the managing director allegedly denied any of such plan.
He said the sale of NAOC JV would throw a lot of PENGASSAN members into the labour market, considering the present harsh economic situation in the country.
“The Managing Director of Eni Nigeria, Mr. Fabrizio Bolondi, invited the workforce to a meeting on September 4, 2023, and callously informed us that Eni has sold its 20 per cent equity share in NAOC JV, comprising OML 60, 61, 62 & 63, covering parts of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Imo states to Oando Nigeria Limited, transferring all her assets and liabilities to Oando, without recourse to outstanding financial obligations to the workers, vis-a-vis their employee savings plan, pension and gratuity.
“It is imperative to note that the union, being the workers representative, was not pre-informed before the commencement of the sales agreement.
“Not long from date, the union on hearing rumours of the sales of the assets, held a meeting with the management on July 12, 2023, where the question was put forward to Eni Nigeria Management if they had any plan of selling the NAOC JV assets to Oando or any other company, but the managing director vehemently denied any plan of selling the JV assets.”
Continuing, the Agip Group PENGASSAN chairman in Port Harcourt, said, “Instead the MD made presentations on planned injection of IPP phase 2 generated power to national grid, as well as the possible conversion of OPL 245 to OML by the government.”
It also state that by the announcement of the sale of NAOC JV assets to Oando, over 3,000 indigenous workers could be thrown into the labour market as the details of their sales transaction were not made known.
“At the moment, a lot of NAOC workers have suddenly developed some health challenges as a result of that callous announcement made by the MD of Eni Nigeria. The union position is for due process to be followed by Eni management.
“The Union has ordered a total withdrawal of her members from all offices and field locations of the company until a proper agreement is reached with Eni Nigeria and AGIP Group PENGASSAN.
“By that withdrawal action, gas supply to Indorama has been affected, daily oil production of 30,000 barrels of crude has been suspended, and about 10mscf of LNG gas to NLNG has been cut-off, and about 350MW of Okpai IPP power to the national grid has been shutdown,” Survival stated.
He further said prior to the shocking announcement of NAOC JV sale, the management had pulled out all Italian expatriates from the field locations.
