NIGERIA: OIL UNIONS TO STRIKE MARCH 25-27

UNCLAS ABUJA 000480 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH LABOR FOR SHALEY ENERGY FOR GPERSON, CHAYLOCK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ELAB ENRG NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: OIL UNIONS TO STRIKE MARCH 25-27 REF: LAGOS 103 ¶1. (U) According to our recent conversations the week of March 16-20, the strike reported in reftel para 3 by members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),will take place on March 25-27. PENGASSAN and NUPENG workers (most of whom live in the Niger Delta and around Nigerian refineries) plan a stay-at-home strike and rallies are reportedly planned in Abuja on March 20 and 23. ¶2. (U) Given that neither PENGASSAN nor NUPENG has offices in Abuja, nor large numbers of members in Abuja, we do not expect planned rallies for Abuja to be large or particularly disruptive. We do, however, note that NUPENG membership includes members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, so domestic fuel shortages should be expected. Given the tendency to hoard in preparation for announced strikes and high public tensions over the announced deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector (reftel),there is a risk of violence in connection with long fuel queues. ¶3. (U) Poloff spoke to various oil companies (from international to small Nigerian companies) throughout the week and found they are divided on their views of the strike. Some consider that the strike will happen as planned and effect production and operations, while others report they believe the strike will fizzle out before it gets started. ¶4. (U) This cable coordinated with Consulate Lagos. SANDERS