"Lithuania and the EU have both offered help to find a technical solution. Regrettably, Russia just declined our offer. This gives a bad name to Russia as a reliable energy supplier...A number of time we have proposed to Russia information and cooperation and we have had no answer."
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas attacked Russia's reliability as an energy supplier Monday, criticizing its neighbor for refusing assistance in repairing damage to the closed spur of the Druzhba crude pipeline feeding Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta refinery.
"We urge the BPE (government Bureau of Public Enterprises) to settle the issue of workers' welfare and pay before going ahead with the proposed sale. Unless this is done, Nigerians should brace up for another crippling workers' strike from Thursday."
Nigerian oil unions threatened Sunday to launch a strike next week to protest against the planned sale of two government-owned oil refineries to private investors. Representatives of oil workers unions told at a press conference in Lagos that the strike against the sale in the oil city of Port Harcourt would begin on Thursday.
Updated: May 21, 2007
|
