Foreign energy firms required to use Algerian security guards – World Tribune: Window on the Real World

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CAIRO — Algeria has imposed security guards on foreign energy
contractors in the North African state.

A worker at the Zarzaitine gas field in Ain Amenas. Algeria’s energy minister says the country has ‘the necessary means to secure its energy facilities’. /Louafi Larbi/Reuters — A worker at the Zarzaitine gas field in Ein Amenas. /Louafi Larbi/Reuters

Officials said the Algiers government drafted measures that require
foreign energy contractors to use Algerian security units. They
said the directive rebuffed lobbying by the foreign companies to bring
security guards from abroad.

“We decided to introduce Algerian security forces despite the difficulty
by foreign companies, which relied on private security, to accept this,”
Algerian Interior Minister Yousef Yousefi said.

At a briefing on March 21, Yousefi said the measure was imposed in wake
of the Al Qaida-aligned attack on Algeria’s liquefied natural gas facility
at Ein Amenas in January. About 40 foreign nationals, almost of all of
them contractors, were killed in the four-day standoff.

“We have taken new measures to protect oil installations, which had been
guarded by security agents affiliated with the companies,” Yousefi said.
“This will protect the country.”

Ein Amenas, Foreign energy firms required to use Algerian security guards, Yousef Yousefi

Foreign energy firms required to use Algerian security guards added by World Tribune on March 25, 2013
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