Oil and gas firm Tullow is to resume its operations in Kenya after talks with the country’s government to prevent further violent protests.
The producer was forced to suspend work at two sites in the country, thought to contain more than 300million barrels of oil, following angry protests two weeks ago that saw hundreds of residents marching on Tullow’s sites.
The Kenyan government had accused local MP James Lomenen of leading a 400-strong group of protesters the Twiga 1 drilling camp, claiming his group broke down a fence and “engaged in wanton destruction of property and looting”.
Now the company says it has struck a deal with the country’s authorities over ensuring the safety of its staff ahead of restarting production tomorrow.
“The suspension of operations announced last week allowed all parties to discuss and understand the complex operating environment in Northern Kenya and commit to taking the necessary action to allow exploration operations to resume,” said the company in a statement.
“Further to these discussions, Tullow has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Minister for Energy. The MoU clearly lays out a plan for the government of Kenya, county government, local communities in Northern Kenya and Tullow to work together inclusively over the long-term and to ensure that operations can continue without disruption in the future.
“Through the MoU, Tullow has re-affirmed its commitment to local employment, local opportunities and transparency throughout its operations in Northern Kenya. As Tullow’s exploration campaign progresses and gathers pace, the number of local employees and local companies involved in our work will continue to grow.”
Lomenen was due to be appear in court at the weekend, but the hearing did not go ahead.
Tullow said it employed more than 800 people from the region on its operations – more than half the staff in the country’s Kenyan operations.
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