01 March 2007
Excerpts from Daily Independent

A total of 1066 indigenes of the Niger Delta are currently working at the Eleme Petrochemicals now being managed by the Indorama Group of Indonesia. The total staff strength of the company is put at 1168, both direct and indirect.

Head, Corporate Communications of Eleme Petrochemicals, Port Harcourt, Mr. Jossy Nkwocha, who disclosed the figure during a chat with journalists on Wednesday, said, 650 of the workers are from the host communities.

Nkwocha said the resuscitation of the company and employment of the indigenes would result in poverty reduction, more job creation, and more taxes for the government and better life for the employees and their dependants.

He described the interest of the World Bank in Eleme Petrochemicals as a product of the belief in the ability of the Indorama Group to turn around the fortunes of the company and attract further private investments into the country's petrochemical industry.