We, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), were shocked to learn that our employees were kidnapped in Sudan and three of them were killed. We strongly accuse the armed gangsters for their brutality. We hereby express our heart-felt condolences and greatest sympathy to the families of the deceased.
On Oct., 28, CNPC rescue team sent back news that among nine people kidnapped from onsite of CNPC's Block 1/2/4, three were confirmed dead, three are still missing, and three have been rescued.
On the morning of Oct. 28, CNPC Vice President Zhou Jiping called on an urgent meeting, during which he demands that CNPC should spare no efforts to rescue the missing, to aid and comfort the families of the dead, to strengthen CNPC's overseas security and anti-terrorism activities, in order to guarantee the safety of CNPC employees, as well as to maintain stability of work force and normal operations of CNPC overseas business. CNPC Vice President Yu Baocai went to related subsidiaries with warm greetings and visited families who lost their loved ones.
At 8 o'clock on the morning of Oct. 18 (local time), nine employees of CNPC Engineering & Construction Company, working at Block 1/2/4, were kidnapped by armed gangsters. Soon after the incident occurred, Chinese Party and State leaders attach great importance, and make clear instructions on rescue. CNPC immediately initiated emergency reaction plans, and a rescue team led by Vice President Wang Dongjin was established. Mr. Wang Dongjin arrived at the front line in Sudan at the very first time and began the rescue work. Under the guidance of the Chinese Embassy in Sudan, CNPC on-site rescue team, together with the Sudanese government, has taken a series of measures and tried every means to rescue the kidnapped workers.