CALGARY, Canada, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Addax Petroleum Corporation (TSX: AXC and LSE: AXC) ("Addax Petroleum" or the "Corporation") today made the following announcement.
It is with regret that Addax Petroleum reports the death of a Nigerian Navy personnel member following the defense of a vessel which had been contracted by the Corporation to provide security services on OML126, offshore Nigeria. During the incident four other Navy personnel and crew were injured. Addax Petroleum would like to extend its sympathy and sincere condolences to the family of the deceased over this very sad loss and extend our support for a full and speedy recovery for the injured.
OML126 is located approximately 90 kilometres offshore south of Port Harcourt, and approximately 40 kilometres from the Nigerian coastline, in water depths averaging 130 metres. At approximately 11:45 pm on Sunday, June 8, 2008, the Navy vessel on OML126 was approached and attacked by unknown assailants in two speedboats. The two speedboats departed without any adverse effect on the Corporation's operations or technical infrastructure in OML126. The Navy personnel and vessel have been taken to LNG Bonny Island where the injured personnel are receiving medical attention.
Commenting, Jean Claude Gandur, President and Chief Executive Officer of Addax Petroleum said: "We are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family and those of the injured personnel. Since commencing operations in Nigeria a decade ago, Addax Petroleum has established a practice to proactively build excellent relationships with the local communities and has fostered a climate of open dialogue and mutual respect. We strongly believe that this unfortunate incident was a pre-meditated act by criminal elements seeking personal benefit and is inconsistent with the socially responsible relationship that exists between Addax Petroleum and the local communities."
Full investigations into this criminal incident are underway by local and federal security and government agencies and by Addax Petroleum.
About Addax Petroleum
Addax Petroleum is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with a strategic focus on West Africa and the Middle East. Addax Petroleum is one of the largest independent oil producers in West Africa and has increased its crude oil production from an average of 8,800 bbl/d for 1998 to an average of approximately 139,100 bbl/d for the first quarter of 2008. Further information about Addax Petroleum is available at http://www.sedar.com, http://www.londonstockexchange.com or the Corporation's website, http://www.addaxpetroleum.com.
Legal Notice - Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities legislation. Such statements are generally identifiable by the terminology used, such as "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "budget", "outlook", "may", "will", "should", "could" , "would" or other similar wording. By its very nature, such forward-looking information requires Addax Petroleum to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not be accurate. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information. These factors are discussed in greater detail in filings made by Addax Petroleum with the Canadian provincial securities commissions.
Readers are cautioned that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, Addax Petroleum does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
For further information: Mr. Patrick Spollen, Investor Relations, Tel.: +41(0)22-702-95-47, patrick.spollen@addaxpetroleum.com; Mr. Craig Kelly, Investor Relations, Tel.: +41(0)22-702-95-68, craig.kelly@addaxpetroleum.com; Ms. Marie-Gabrielle Cajoly, Press Relations, Tel.: +41(0)22-702-94-44, marie-gabrielle.cajoly@addaxpetroleum.com; Mr. Nick Cowling, Press Relations, Tel.: +1-416-934-8011, nick.cowling@cossette.com; Mr. James Henderson, Press Relations, Tel.: +44(0)20-7743-6673, james.henderson@pelhampr.com; Mr. Alisdair Haythornthwaite, Press Relations, Tel.: +44(0)20-7743-6676, alisdair.haythornthwaite@pelhampr.com
For further information: Mr. Patrick Spollen, Investor Relations, Tel.: +41(0)22-702-95-47, patrick.spollen@addaxpetroleum.com; Mr. Craig Kelly, Investor Relations, Tel.: +41(0)22-702-95-68, craig.kelly@addaxpetroleum.com; Ms. Marie-Gabrielle Cajoly, Press Relations, Tel.: +41(0)22-702-94-44, marie-gabrielle.cajoly@addaxpetroleum.com; Mr. Nick Cowling, Press Relations, Tel.: +1-416-934-8011, nick.cowling@cossette.com; Mr. James Henderson, Press Relations, Tel.: +44(0)20-7743-6673, james.henderson@pelhampr.com; Mr. Alisdair Haythornthwaite, Press Relations, Tel.: +44(0)20-7743-6676, alisdair.haythornthwaite@pelhampr.com
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