A strike by Nigerian oil workers stopped shipments from two big export terminals on Wednesday, the first day of a three-day stoppage by unions protesting about violence against oil workers, shipping agents said.
Thousands of oil union members stayed away from offices, oilfields and ports in Africa's top producer and queues formed at filling stations as Nigerians prepared for fuel shortages.
Tanker loadings at two major terminals, Brass River and Escravos, were suspended because of the strike, shipping agents said. Operations appeared to continue normally at other ports, and output was not immediately hit as non-unionised staff stepped in to cover, industry officials said.
"We have confirmed suspension of loadings at Brass and Escravos, but other terminals have not been affected yet," a shipping agent in Lagos said. The information was confirmed by a second agent.
The two terminals, operated by Italy's ENI and US giant Chevron, normally export about 350,000 barrels per day. Companies can produce normally even when exports stop for a few days because they have huge storage tanks at the terminals.
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