The $3bn gas gathering projects, EGTL and EGP3, initiated by Chevron Nigeria Limited in Delta State, have been suspended due to the strike action by the workers handling the projects.
The projects, conceived by CNL as part of efforts to achieve the Federal Government�s target of eliminating gas flaring in the country by 2008,was suspended on Wednesday.
The projects were scheduled to be completed in October 2008.
The construction of the projects was awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industries Company Limited and South Gas Company by CNL.
The EGP3 was awarded to HHI, while EGTL was awarded to SGC.
The workers in the employ of the two companies withdrew their services on Monday, resulting in the disruption of the projects.
The companies were operating simultaneously in Escravos, Warri South West Local Government Area, before the latest development.
The striking workers, under the aegis of the Host Communities Workers� Association, alleged that the managements of HHI and SGC declined to honour the agreements contained in a memorandum of understanding signed with them before the commencement of the construction works for the projects.
It was learnt that the workers were protesting an alleged payment of poor wages, termination of the appointments of thier colleagues due to their involvement in union matters and general violation of their rights.
The spokesman of the workers, Mr. Dada Festus, said the strike action will be sustained until the managements of HHI and SGC review their anti-labour posture.
The scheduled movements of workers and equipment to the Escravos sites were suspended on Thursday morning, when it became apparent that the workers were not ready to suspend the strike.
The workers on the sites merely stayed there without doing anything on Thursday morning.
A spokesman of HHI, who visited the Warri office of the Punch on Thursday, said the workers acted in bad faith, adding that the CNL was considering the closure of the sites until the matter was amicably resolved.
The HHI official, who craved anonymity, said nobody working on the gas projects earned less than N67,000 in three weeks, while they enjoyed one week off.
Besides, he said the workers were fed three times daily.