Transforming Tensions: Navigating Community Challenges during a Libyan Desert Rig Move

Problem:

An international oil services (IOS) client encountered catastrophic threats during a rig move in the Libyan desert. A community, typically regarded as friendly, dramatically shifted their stance to confrontation. This abrupt change put convoy drivers in grave danger and jeopardised a multi-million USD asset.

Actions:

• Engaged directly with the community during the sensitive period of Ramadan, dedicating several days to foster rapport and to deeply understand the underlying issues fuelling the conflict.

• Collaborated closely with the Country Manager to recalibrate supply chain policies, aligning them with the shifting post-Ghaddafi tribal dynamics and addressing community grievances.

• Implemented swift conflict resolution strategies to address and appease the concerns of the community.

Results:

• Successfully defused a volatile and potentially lethal situation, ensuring the safety and well-being of convoy drivers and the protection of critical assets.

• Established a renewed and strengthened relationship with the community, demonstrating a genuine commitment to understanding and addressing their concerns.

• Averted substantial financial losses, saving the client several hundred thousand USD by eliminating the need for prolonged work stoppages and circumventing potential unrecoverable costs.