LAGOS, Nigeria - a major Union threatened Thursday stop the heart beating the economy of Nigeria - crude oil production - in a strike in the country and protests access Africa's most populous nation.
Oil prices rose on the news. Nigeria is the fifth largest exporter of oil to the United States, and a decision would force us refineries in replacement of 630,000 barrels per day of crude oil.
The ability of the Union to apply a closure Sunday, through the marshes of the Delta in southern Nigeria, which remains massive fields of offshore oil in question. But the threatened strike caused nervousness in global markets of oil as a concern in the world of traders for delivery.
Nigeria has a strike paralysed were which began Monday after the President Goodluck Jonathan abandoned Government grants, maintained at a low price of gasoline. The nights pump price has more than doubled to $1.70 per gallon (45 cents per litre), at least $ 3.50 per gallon (94 cents per litre). The cost of food and transportation has doubled in a country where most people less $ 2 per daily life.
Little lose the anger over one benefits from average Nigerians see a country rich in oil, as well as corruption, anger caused events to this nation of 160 million people and violence that killed at least 10 people.
Oil and the association of executives of natural gas from Nigeria, representing approximately 20,000 workers, said he would be forced to close production of oil and gas, "the option apply amer" all if the Government refuses to reinstate gasoline subsidies.
Babatunde Ogun, President of the Union said if the fields are shut down, he was six months to a year to run effectively.
"We believe that when at a standstill, the Government give in to will," Ogun told journalists in Lagos. Essence of $ dominates the economy of Nigeria and the majority of the revenues of the Government.
Ogun also said that a closing power grid, disable the natural gas of the nation, already in ruins.
Thursday night without notice the end of the negotiations between labour and the Government. Officials have said that they would resume Saturday.
Petroleum in Nigeria were not for the moment, felt the impact of the national strike. Many of the operations are automated, both for efficiency so that people working in the maze of creeks, Niger delta, where the bands criminal and militant workers for the removal of the high-dollar target.
Foreign companies conduct large offshore fields, far from the chaos of growth and demonstrations across the country. Deliveries of offshore platforms go immediately to the market.
But if something goes kaput if the pressure in the well vary or countless other problems occur, it would be an automatic system to stop someone there work again in the production.
Pressed on how the threatened closure could have automated parts of the industry, offer no answer Ogun.
The most of the oil companies, including the dominant Royal Dutch Shell PLC, said that they monitor the situation.
Kenneth Arnold, an independent consultant to oil and shell former engineer, said "it would be very easy to close" Nigerian oil fields. Replacement workers, causes the fields make bring dangers, he said.
"It does not, to stay there, please", said Arnold. "Killed in Nigeria, people in the oil fields." "There is a part of the action local villains want.".
Other companies with branches in Nigeria are Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., ENI SpA Italian and French company Total SA, work in tandem with the State Nigerian National Petroleum Corp..
Levi Ajuonoma, a spokesman for the State oil company, said that he had not adjusted its forecasts of production and shipping on the strike. It takes time for the coffers of the Government of Nigeria, the impact of the loss of income, to feel that oil and gas natural charges in the coming months. To do this, providing at least in the short term, in which the United States would not affected.
However, a future judgment may influence the price of oil on world equity markets - you can increase the price of gasoline to us consumers. World oil prices increased as activists several years attacks against the oil companies and crude oil pipeline began in 2006.
The price of oil has increased on much of the day Thursday concerns about the impact of a Nigerian closure on crude oil of the world of reference increases especially since $ 1.38 to $ 102,25 a barrel in New York. Prices settled later in the day on rumors that Europe, would delay an embargo of Iranian oil the day down to $99,10.
"As oil of crude for the Government of Nigeria sold..." "This is not so much affect,", said Professor of Economics at the University of Ibadan Adeola Adenikinju. "The exercise is the nerve centre of the economy has not affected really was.".
The protests of the growth and attacks by a radical Islamic sect have already before fuel of a popular dissent from the Government after the dispossession of the pressure additional grants. Analysts are warning that that could raise political risks in a country with a history of the military leaders and a young democracy.
"The issue of the grant these strong emotions because he is considered one of the few benefits, Nigerians living in the State of a producing oil induced get,", said Barclays Capital. "If protests continue, or impetus, they are a great challenge for the Government of Jonathan and exhaust the capacity of administration for a sustainable security threat already potentially.".
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Writer of energy AP Chris Kahn in New York contributed to this report.
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Jon Gambrell can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
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