Gabon Strike Cuts Onal Field Output

A strike in Gabon by oil workers at French company Maurel and Prom has cut production from the Onal field to 10,000 barrels per day from 28,000 bpd normally, according to a statement from the oil ministry late on Wednesday.

The strike, which started on Monday and began affecting oil production on Tuesday, was related to staff being laid off for missing work during a period of unrest after the presidential election, the Gabon oil workers union ONEP said in a statement.

"On Monday at 3 a.m., certain workers began a strike...despite negotiations that were underway," the oil ministry statement said.

Work has also been impacted at the Coucal oil field, the ministry and ONEP said. ONEP has threatened a general oil strike if the eleven workers were not allowed to return to work.

Gabon is an OPEC member and Africa's fourth largest producer with an output of around 220,000 barrels per day, dominated by international oil majors Total and Royal Dutch Shell (RYDAF) .

The strike comes after a disputed Aug. 27 presidential election which was narrowly won by president Ali Bongo but which opposition leader Jean Ping said was rigged. Violence followed the results in late August, in which at least three were killed. The opposition said dozens died.

The eleven oil workers left a site operated by Maurel and Prom on September 23, the day that the Gabon constitutional court gave their ruling on the election. Many in Gabon stayed at home that day for fear of further violence.

Maurel and Prom was not immediately available for comment.

Reporting By Wilfried Obangome