OSSC Employees Called To Participate In Sit-In

KUWAIT CITY, April 14

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is expected to offer the heavy oil production project for bidding by the end of the third quarter of this year, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting sources.
Disclosing the estimated value of the tender is more than a billion Kuwaiti dinars, sources confirmed the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has approved the proposed budget for the project. Sources said the KOC has finalized the initial design works, indicating the project includes the digging of 100 wells. Sources clarified the production of heavy oil will start upon completion of the construction of the wells in 2017. Sources added the expected production is 60,000 barrels per day, with the intention to increase production gradually until it reaches 270,000 barrels per day in 2030.

Sources admitted Kuwait is still in the early stage of heavy oil production; hence, the need to cooperate with foreign companies to reduce the price of production that varies from 12 to 15 dollars. Sources said the production of heavy oil is different from the ordinary oil, so this is a big challenge for the country as the process requires modern techniques like heat extraction catalyst that the company will use for the first time.

Meanwhile, employees of the Oil Sector Services Company (OSSC) have been tolerating the unjust policies of the management, which has been flouting their rights for quite some time now, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting Chairperson of Workers Syndicate Sa'ad Al-Khanen.

Stressing the need to stop injustice in the company, Al-Khanen called on all the employees to participate in the sit-in slated for Tuesday in front of the OSSC headquarters in Salhiya Complex. He said the action will send a message to the concerned officials that the employees will no longer tolerate injustice, abuse and administrative corruption. He reaffirmed that the employees will not keep quiet again whenever their rights are violated.

Al-Khanen pointed out the employees are wise enough to detect deception in the statements released by the management to foil the planned sit-in. He said the syndicate has evidence on the arrogance of the management which has been neglecting the demands of the employees. He also denied the management's claim that it had initiated a dialogue with the employees and challenged it to present proof of the meeting.

© Arab Times 2013