30 May 2004 12:40
Russian energy companies to remain in Saudi despite hostage-taking
Moscow, 30 May: The Russian companies LUKoil and Stroytransgaz [gas pipeline construction company] do not intend to
change their plans in Saudi Arabia in connection with the hostage-taking in the city of Al-Khubar. Representatives of
the two companies told ITAR-TASS today that the incident will not affect their work in Saudi Arabia.
Sources in LUKoil-Overseas, which implements LUKoil's foreign contracts, stressed that "more than likely
there will be some tactical changes related to security measures". They also said that "the company delegation
currently in Al-Khubar will return to Russia, as was planned earlier". "None of our employees was in the
building when the hostages were seized," a LUKoil-Overseas source told ITAR-TASS.
The press secretary of Stroytransgaz, Valentina Smirnova, also said that her company would not be shutting down
operations in Saudi Arabia. She added that "at the moment a selection of particular projects is being conducted,
and this year is mainly being spent setting up a representative office in Saudi Arabia".
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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