Devon?s workers in Papua agree to end strike: Spokesman

Workers in the Devon Energy-operated oil blocks in Salawati, Papua on Saturday had agreed to end their two-week strike and return to work, Devon?s spokesman Erwin Lebe told Petromindo.com.

Erwin told Petromindo.com on Saturday Devon?s management had agreed to fulfill its workers? demand that they be given ?transitional? compensation for the recent sale Devon?s interest in Salawati oil blocks to PetroChina.

The workers had gone on strike since Apr. 25 after the company turned down their demand. Their action caused Pertamina?s Kasim refinery which depends entirely from Salawati?s crude supply to stop its activities.

Erwin said Devon?s and Pertamina?s officials had planned to soon discuss in Jakarta about the compensation with representatives of the workers.

Devon Energy operates two oil blocks in the western part of Papua province, namely Salawati and Kepala Burung. Both blocks currently produce some 10,000 barrels per day of crude. Devon is in the process of transferring its working interests in both blocks to PetroChina.

Meanwhile, Erwin said officials from Devon and Pertamina would on Monday meet with Tuban villagers in East Java who had demanded Devon to compensate them for the air pollution caused by Devon's operation.

On Thursday, hundreds of Rahayu Dasim villagers in Tuban blockaded Devon?s oil fields after it rejected to meet their demand. Some 20 protesters were injured when police troops tried to disperse them. (Godang)