Despite the ongoing hostage situation in Algeria, international oil & gas recruiters say they are not deterred from operating in the world’s trouble spots as long as the right security arrangements are in place.

According to media reports, yesterday a number of hostages, including it is believed British nationals, were taken hostage by a terrorist group at the Tigantourine gas facility near In Amenas in Eastern Algeria, which is partly owned by BP.

Nathan Ward, global director of international oil & gas recruiter Leap29, says that though contractors will be put off working in Algeria for the time being, in the longer term “it depends on how tight the security is”. 

Ward says that a case in point is Libya, “which has really taken off for us” because security, while it was good before, “is even better now”.

Ward says that after the current situation in Algeria has been resolved, major global corporations such as BP and Statoil who operate in the country “will make sure that security is better”. Leap 29 does not have any contractors in Algeria, says Ward. 

Ian Langley, executive chairman of international oil & gas recruiter Air Energi, agrees that contractors will not be put off working in countries such as Algeria, as long as they are confident about security arrangements.  

He says that Air Energi “has the comfort of working under the umbrella” of major corporations, who have robust security arrangements in place, including the use of security firms.

Langley says that Air Energi would not necessarily be put off sending contractors into  Algeria in the future, telling Recruiter that such decisions are made on a location-by-location rather than a country-by-country basis. He says that the company makes its assessment based on a number of factors, including advice from its security partner and the Foreign Office.

He says the only situation where the company would put a blanket ban on sending contractors into a particular country was where “the security situation is wholly non-supportive for doing business there”. Air Energi does not have contractors in Algeria, he says. 

A spokesperson for NES Global Talent tells Recruiter the company has no comment to make.

As recruiter.co.uk went to press, BP had not responded to our request for comment.