Statoil ASA has decided to conduct an investigation following the terrorist attack against In Amenas.

The main objective of the investigation is to provide the company with a basis for making further improvements to its security, risk assessment and emergency preparedness.

The Board of Directors of Statoil has asked former head of the Intelligence Service in Norway, retired Lieutenant General Torgeir Hagen, to head the investigation and Hagen has accepted the appointment.

"Many people from different countries became victims of brutal international terrorism at In Amenas. In Statoil we lost five of our cherished employees. The terrorists, and no one else, are responsible for the attack. They stand guilty of causing all the anguish and suffering. Our responsibility is to learn, and do what we can to further strengthen the safety of our employees for the future," says chair of Statoil's Board of Directors, Svein Rennemo.

"We will investigate to determine the chain of events before, during and after the terrorist attack in order to learn and further improve within the areas of security and emergency preparedness. It has been important for us to obtain external expertise on terrorism and security that will contribute to this work. In addition we will use the investigating expertise to be found in the company", Rennemo adds.

Tags: Statoil