Ethiopian rebels warn against oil, gas exploration

Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:06 PM GMT

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Ethiopian separatist rebels said on Monday they would permit no oil and gas exploration in their eastern Ogaden region, and warned companies vying for a gas concession there against going forward.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), ethnic Somalis fighting for independence from Ethiopia, named India's state-run GAIL Ltd. and its partner Gujarat State Petroleum Corp. Ltd. in its statement.

Earlier this month, GAIL said it had been shortlisted to bid for Calub and Hilala gas fields in the Ogaden onland basin, which are thought to have 4 trillion cubic feet of gas and possibly more.

"So long as the Somali people of Ogaden are denied their basic rights to self-determination, the exploitation of natural resources in Ogaden for the benefit of the Ethiopian regime or any foreign firm will not be tolerated," an ONLF statement said.

The ONLF urged the companies to withdraw their final bids, due on June 10.

"There is currently an armed conflict," between Ethiopia and ONLF fighters that makes the area unsafe, the ONLF said.

The Ethiopian government had no immediate comment.

Ethiopia has long blamed the ONLF for attacks on government troops in the vast and dry region, and human rights groups say the army has retaliated by intimidating the local population.