Recent collaboration with Western oil companies should see improvements in productivity.
Natural gas is supplied to Europe.
Weaknesses Oil revenues have not recovered from the 1986 collapse in world prices, despite a rise in late 1996. Political turmoil threatens many new projects and has led to an exodus of European and other expatriate workers important to the economy. Lack of skilled labor coupled with high unemployment. Shortages of basic foodstuffs. A thriving black market.