An Irish gas and oil exploration company working in Iraq has said it will continue operating there, despite the news that a major Russian contractor is to withdraw over fears its staff would be abducted and killed by anti-coalition rebel forces.
Mr David Horgan, managing director of Dublin-based Petrel Resources, said he is confident the firm's employees will not be targeted because Petrel is working for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and not the US-led coalition, with whom many of the firms being targeted have contracts.
"So far it has been business as usual. We have had no threats in recent weeks. The rebel factions know who various workers are and we have not appeared on their radar," he said.
"We keep quite distant from mercenary workers and we obviously advertise the fact that we are working for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, rather than for coalition forces".
The firm currently has 12 employees working in Iraq. None of them is Irish. However, Mr Horgan has travelled to the country eight times since the official end of the war just over 12 months ago. He returned to Ireland last Wednesday after a week there with three Irish workers.
Petrel staff work closely with Iraqi officials, who accompany them everywhere and vouch for them when the need arises.
Petrel has been working in Iraq for the last seven years. It is involved in exploration of a 10,000sq km block in the Western Desert.
It has promoted its image as a neutral party and refused to participate in the UN-administered oil for food programme between 1999 and 2002.
