DPR STRIKE ENDS PEACEFULLY; NO PRODUCTION IMPACT

UNCLAS LAGOS 002562 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR/BLEVINE STATE FOR DS/IP/AF STATE FOR INR/AA STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENANDER STATE PASS DOC PHUEPER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION MARAD STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ STATE PASS EX-IM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS OPIC FOR CDUFFY STATE PASS TDA FOR BTERNET E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EPET EINV NI ENERG SUBJECT: DPR STRIKE ENDS PEACEFULLY; NO PRODUCTION IMPACT Two-Day DPR Strike Ends -------------- ¶1. Senior employees of Nigeria's Department of Petroleum Resources ended a 2-day strike on 22 December. DPR Public Affairs Manager Belema Osibodu confirmed to the Consulate on 23 December the strike has been suspended following a meeting between management and DPR workers. The workers, members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN),were striking to protest non-implementation of a collective bargaining agreement. DPR, the regulatory agency which oversees Nigeria's energy sector, handles loading of oil at terminals, and recording and clearing tankers lifting oil. No Production Impact -------------- ¶2. Contrary to some Nigerian press reports, Post has not been able to confirm a production impact. Both Exxon Mobil General Manager of External Affairs Udom Inoyo and Shell Head of Media and Communications Bisi Ojediran confirmed that operations were not affected, as DPR management stepped in to take over routine operations during this two-day period. BROWNE#