ExxonMobil?s contractor worker shot dead in Aceh

Unidentified armed men shot one PT ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI) contractor?s worker to death Thursday morning in the troubled Aceh province, according to spokesman of the state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina Siddick Nitikusumah.

Siddick said on Friday that the victim, M. Thaib, was on his way together with other EMOI employees, from Point A to the South Lhoksukon gas field when the armed men made the ambush.

?Pertamina and EMOI see this as a very serious situation because it creates (new) worries,? he told Petromindo.com.

EMOI spokeswoman Julia Tumengkol confirmed the incident.

But Sidick said that despite the incident, the South Lhoksukon gas field would not be shut down. The facility was just reopened two weeks ago after a closure since March this year due to security uncertainty. (godang)