BY ASHA JAVEED

BpTT is set to cut more jobs. Industry insiders say the company is expected to cut as least 20 per cent of its staff as it fully implements a restructuring plan.

In October 2007, bpTT said its operations were not expected to be significantly affected by a wide-ranging reorganisation of the company announced in London by BP Group chief executive,Tony Hayward.

BpTT chairman and chief executive officer Robert Riley said that “it is not anticipated that the new direction will significantly impact bpTT.”

In November, bpTT did cut staff in its communications and external affairs department. That was the first phase in its restructuring programme.

Yesterday, bpTT confirmed that more jobs will be cut.

“As part of the BP Group's forward agenda to remove complexity and improve efficiency, BP Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) is currently reviewing its structure and processes throughout the organisation. That process will be completed in the coming months and as soon as it is completed we will comment further,” it said in a statement.

The local arm of BP Group said it was following Hayward's forward agenda to re-establish the company's competitive position and make it a more financially competitive company.

“All changes to bpTT's organisation will be made with the objective of ensuring that the company has the capability and capacity to deliver its long-term business plan in Trinidad and Tobago,” it said.

Yet, industry insiders say the staff cut will be significant compared to that of BG T&T and bhp billiton late last year. BG T&T said it was undertaking an internal re-organisation that would lead to “the reduction of overall staffing levels” by 42 employees. The job cuts, according to reports, affected mostly locals and were at all levels of the organisation.

The BG T&T release stated, “This new company structure is necessary to meet, not only our internal growth targets but also those of the wider T&T energy industry.”

BHP Billiton also reduced the staffing levels in its T&T operations.

BHP Billiton’s local spokesman, Carla Noel-Mendez has said, “A number of changes within the T&T BHP Billiton petroleum operations are being undertaken in order to facilitate our business development and continued improvement. We have and we will always continually search for ways to ensure that our business is operating as efficiently as possible.”