Public joint-stock company Ukrtransnafta is preparing to sharply cut the workforce at the Pivdenny sea oil terminal (Odesa region) from November 21, a source at the company has told Interfax-Ukraine.
"There are no tankers coming– there's no work. First the employees of the terminal were laid off, and then they switched to a four-day week. Those who worked under contracts were fired. Now they've decided to dismiss almost everyone," he said.
He said that orders on the reduction of workforce have been registered and employees were informed.
"It's sad for the company. It was built recently and modern equipment was installed. Who know where the dismissed workers will go?" he said.
The State Employment Service said it did not have information on the possible dismissal of the employees of the terminal.
"We don't have official information on the possible dismissal of employees at the terminal in the second half of November. They could submit information later," the local division of the service told Interfax-Ukraine.
Ukrtransnafta did not comment on the report about the dismissal of employees from the Pivdenny sea oil terminal.
Since 2011 the terminal has handled Venezuelan and Azeri oil, which was pumped to Belarusian oil refineries. A contract between Ukrtransnafta and Belarusian Oil Company is in effect now, but no oil is being pumped.
Pivdenny sea oil terminal was opened in 2001. The terminal is used to handle oil from tankers to the Odesa-Brody oil pipeline. The capacity of the terminal is 14.5 million tonnes per year with the possibility of expanding it to 45 million tonnes.
Ukrtransnafta is the operator of the Ukrainian oil transport system. All of its stock is managed by Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy.
