Unidentified armed men kidnap three Exxon Mobil workers in Aceh

Three workers of Arun gas field operated by US oil giant Exxon Mobil Inc. in the troubled province of Aceh were abducted at gunpoint by unidentified persons.

ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI) spokesperson Deva Rachman when contacted confirmed the incident.

?The incident happened on Thursday afternoon on a public road near the village of Teupun Peunti in North Aceh regency. The three workers were traveling home to Lhokseumawe from their workstations at the nearby Arun Field, operated by EMOI,? said Deva

?We have notified the appropriate authorities about this incident and are cooperating with their investigation. EMOI is working with BPMIGAS, which has overall responsibility for security of the Arun Field area of operations, to help secure the safe return of these workers.?

Deva said thus far, EMOI had no plan to stop gas operations. Last year, Exxon Mobil shut down its Aceh operations for months on security concern.

Meanwhile a BP Migas official said BP Migas had yet identified the group behind the kidnapping or their motive.

?But we are coordinating with security apparatus and we urge workers to comply to safety and security standard,? said the official. The official refused to speculate whether separatist group Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was behind the kidnapping.

Exxon Mobil runs huge gas fields in Aceh, which feed the entire needs of Arun natural gas liquefaction. (alex/godang)