Nigerian workers will disrupt their country's key oil exports of 2.5 million barrels per day when they launch an indefinite general strike on November 16, the country's top labour leader warned on Sunday. "All the oil workers will be involved in the strike," Adams Oshiomhole, leader of the umbrella Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) told reporters.
"Last time there no disruption of the upstream oil sector. Now the only way for the government to listen is to interrupt the oil flow," he declared, referring back to a four-day "warning strike" held earlier this month.
News that the strikers - who are protesting against rising domestic fuel prices - intend to target exports will send a shockwave through already jittery international oil markets.
With exports of 2.5 million barrels per day, Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and the sixth biggest in the world. Its sweet, light crude is ideal for refining into petrol, and it supplies 15 percent of the key US market.
Previous general strikes, including this month's four-day stoppage, have not had a great effect on crude exports, but the markets remain tense after record highs earlier this month and any threat to production could force up prices.
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