Job Discussion Forums

[dilbur]

There is a number of you wondering about what its like to work in Libya and in particular, working for Sirte Oil Company (SOC). You may want to consider the following BEFORE you apply for a job with them or BEFORE you accept their offer.

Following is based on my personal account. I HAVE been to Brega...! I was hired by this company and I accepted their offer (which I was told by my recruiter would increase by about 30% shortly after I join - it NEVER happened) but only until I was able to secure a better offer in a better place. I quit SOC after 2 months!!!

* Residential compound is located in Marsa El Brega. Locally, it is known as just Brega for short. This is also where the main petrochemical refinery is located. The air often smells like ammonia..

* Houses are quite run down, old, smelly, very dusty, poorly furnished if at all and cockroach infested in many cases. Air conditioning units, though very very old, are provided and in somewhat working condition.

* There are NO parks, NO theaters, NO bowling alleys; basically there is nothing there for entertainment.

* Medical services are provided "free" but hospital equipment is old, to say the least, and definityely NOT modern. Hospital staff is almost entirely MALE and a mixture of Libyan and Filipino. I personally would never want to see a doctor here. Medical care available, from what I have observed, is quite basic.

* There are NO schools for expat children in Brega.

* There is only one "grocery" store in the compound which offers very limited choices.

* Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided at the local cantene. Food is generally pretty good. Its a cafeteria style buffet but you don't help yourself to the food...... you pick up a metal tray, get in line, and the servers give you whatever you point at........ask for an extra piece of chicken and you may be turned down sometimes...... Smile You can get a little bit of everything as you move up in the queue and for the most part, you woun't be able to finish everything on your tray.

* At the cantene, if you have any particular dietary requirements such as low sodium or low cholesterol etc.... GOOD LUCK..

* You will have to buy/bring your own TV, your own satellite dish, your own telephone sets, your own DVD players etc. There is also NO Blockbuster Video here... Bring your OWN everything.

* Most company vehicles are very old, reconditioned or beat up. There are LOTS of Toyota Land Cruisers there......... from 30 years ago... I really don't know how they're still running.. Last time I saw those kinds of vehicles was when I was still a kid.

* Western expats are very very few and far in between. The few expats working for SOC I came across had been working for SOC for many many years on rotational basis. I am sorry to say this, but in my opinion, they are; a) rejects and outcasts who couldn't be hired elsewhere & b) desperate for work. Aramco compounds are a HEAVEN compared to SOC compound

* SOC pays on time but the pay is much lower than what you can/should expect elsewhere. What they offer is insultingly low. Its a good salary if you're a Filipino but an insult if you're a western expat.

* Access to Internet is a luxury and is NOT provided at your residence. You need to use a Net Cafe for all your "surfing" pleasures.... for about a dollar an hour. BTW, headphones are NOT provided at the Cafe.

* Calling overseas to US/Canada is quite expensive. For 10 Libyan Dinars (about US$7) you can talk for about 11 minutes...... Skype is best but then you have no privacy when in the Cafe. The so-called "high speed" Net connection in your office will NOT be fast enough for Vonage. I tried it...... didn't work..

In a nutshell, life in Brega is like being in a prison camp. If you want to know what it feels like being in the SLAMMER..... this is the place for you..


Thats about all I have for now. If any of you have any more or any specific questions, feel free to contact me by email.

[email protected]

I hope information I have provided is helpful.

Regards.

[flyingcarpet]

Thanks for this informative post, dilbur.

I wonder if you could tell us about the gym facilities there. Are they good? Is there much of a social life? I believe that the teaching takes place in Brega. Is that correct? Perhaps there is sailing going on, for those interested.

Do you have to go onto an oil rig to do the rotation?

Thank you for the info.

[dilbur]

I didn't see any gym facility in Brega when I was there nor did I hear of one in Brega. However, I have heard there are some gym facilities in other desert field outposts such as Zelten and Ittihadi....... these are about 150 kms from Brega... How good they are?.... your guess is as good as mine.

As far as I know teaching will take place where ever SOC places you..... be it in Brega, or in Zelten or in Ittihadi etc..... maybe even in Tripoli... It all depends where they want you.

In Brega there is NO social life as you and I would define it as. There is really nothing to do besides maybe jog and watch mostly Arabic TV channels. I would suggest you bring your own bike if you enjoy cycling. It will also be useful for going to places within the camp.

Brega is a coastal town as I'm sure you know from Google Earth... The beaches are nothing what you're imagining them to be........ Brega coastline and beach is very very rocky......... water is full of plankton and the 2 months I was there I didn't see ANY one even swim there let alone do sailing or any other such water activity. I have heard though that beaches in Tripoli are much better with people indulging in water sports there..... but nothing such in Brega.

I hope this helps..

Dilbur

[sharter]

An objective post from someone who is currently doing his second stint with SOC.

Teaching

8am to 5pm
Beginners to PET
7am office start
Some extra materials but bring your own and a laptop, dvds, cds etc
lunch 12-2

Accommodation

Hit and miss. Area 1 Brega has some houses/ blocks and some caravans. Area 2 has trailors, which are old and in poor condition. Housing in the field varies from good (Attahhady) to bad (Sahel).

Food

Good in the field and poor in Brega. There are shops in Brega and you can buy your own basic stuff like tuna, cheese, vegetables and pasta.

Things to do

The area 1 beach is fine. I used it a lot on my first stint here. Good for fishing and swimming. One Canadian has brought his kiteboard and does it everyday. There is a gym and a squash court in area 1. In the field, the free time stuff varies. I'm in Attahhady and the gym is new and good. The food is also fine, with a selection to choose from. I have an en suite room with modern furniture and a tv lounge with at least 4 movie channels, the BBC and Discovery. In Brega there are expats, but it takes time to meet them. There are several internet cafes in Brega and there is phone coverage, even in the desert.

Motivation for being here

Well that varies. I'm here to get some cash together. The ad states 28-42 grand GBP /year and you'll be on that scale somewhere. SOC pays on time every month and I get 4 months holiday a year with 5-6 return tickets. I also have free BUPA coverage worldwide except for the USA. That ain't bad. I earned a lot more at Qatar Petroleum, but spent much more living in the Gulf.

This job suits people who aren't gonna whinge. It isn't for everyone.At 39 I don't consider myself desperate or over the hill Dilbur. As for the other expats? Well you only stayed 2 months...you diddn't exactly stick around and get to know them.

[sharter]

That should read 'trailers'.....the brain disengages when I'm typing and, of course I know how to spell 'didn't' before one of the cafe's typing Nazis chips in.

Day 36 in the desert.....my brain is now jelly.

[tatsuo1]