IOCs should hire according to need – ETAP official

A Tunisian power plant. (Dana Smillie-World Bank)

Petrofac’s decision to sell its stake in Tunisia’s Chergui gas field in June after several years of disruption to production marked the end of a long-running battle between the company and people on the southern Kerkennah islands, who demanded more jobs for locals. 

But while efforts should be made to boost Tunisian employment, IOCs should be free to hire according to their needs, Jalel Smaoui, head of strategy and development at Tunisian NOC ETAP, said in an interview with Interfax Natural Gas Daily....