ExxonMobil, the United States' biggest oil company was forced to stop its drilling operations following the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The Oil giant reportedly confessed that it doubts to begin its offshore drilling in certain areas in West Africa, including Liberia, according to ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson's statement at a press conference Thurs. in Houston.
The world's leading oil company currently has drilling operations in Nigeria and Liberia, both heavily affected by the Ebola epidemic.
ExxonMobil has 20 percent of proven developed crude oil reserves and 3 percent natural gas operations in Africa.
ExxonMobil has reportedly restricting some of its employees to travel to African countries affected by the outbreak to assure the families of their employees of their safety, according to Tillerson.
Ebola has reportedly caused 3,338 deaths in West Africa including Liberia, the area heavily affected by the disease. The outbreak also struck Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Nigeria.
The first person in the United States tested positive for Ebola was recorded.
At a news conference where Tillerson revealed the plan to give $18 million grants to three Houston hospitals, he said "We had some drilling plans for some blocks offshore West Africa in Liberia," Tillerson stated when asked about the company's plans in West Africa.
"We are having to look at when it would be prudent to resume operations there because you do have to have shore-based support," the ExxonMobil CEO added.
The move was reported to be ExxonMobil's precautionary measure to prevent getting and spreading the Ebola virus
However Tillerson stated that their efforts remain at a "fairly low level" still.
ExxonMobil previously reported that it's the oil giant's Liberian division had gotten hold of 80 percent interest in 2,500-square kilometre oil drilling area Liberian Block 13 located offshore from Africa.
Aside from the company's petroleum products, ExxonMobil in partnership with its African affiliates acquired 1 million acres of oil drilling sites in Nigeria.
Exxon shares increased 1 percent at $93.68 in the New York Stock Exhchange.
