* CEO says seeking ways to improve security for workers
* No date given for expected return to full output at InAmenas
* Union wants independent inquiry, to meet with government
OSLO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Norway's Statoil onTuesday launched an internal inquiry into security at the InAmenas gas plant in Algeria which it jointly operates after adeadly hostage-taking incident there last month.
Separately, the head of the largest union within Statoil told Reuters it would hold talks with the Norwegian governmenton Wednesday to discuss the need for an independent inquiry.
Islamist gunmen attacked on Jan. 15 and seized hundreds ofhostages before the Algerian army stormed the facility four dayslater. Dozens of workers were killed, including five Norwegiannationals.
"The security measures at In Amenas were not sufficient topredict, or to stop, an attack of this character," ChiefExecutive Helge Lund told a news conference.
"What the investigation will help us with is to make usunderstand what happened, and to identify areas of improvement to strengthen our security work."
Lund would not say when the plant would return to fulloperation.
The facility, which Statoil operates with BP andAlgerian state-owned firm Sonatrach, restarted some productionon Sunday.
"We have to make sure that security can be maintained beforewe can send (foreign) employees back to work at the plant," Lundsaid.
A six-member investigative team will be led by TorgeirHagen, a former head of the Norwegian intelligence agency.
Half of the team work for Statoil while the other three arefrom outside the company, including Adrian Fulcher, a formerdirector of counter-terrorism in Britain.
The team, which will deliver its final report on Sept. 15 tothe board of Statoil, will also be advised by a former actingdirector of the CIA, John McLaughlin, and a former U.S. deputydefence secretary, John Hamre, among other advisers.
AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY?
Statoil's security arrangements have been criticised in theaftermath of the attack, and Leif Sande, head of the IndustriEnergi trade union, the largest for oil workers, has argued thatan independent commission should investigate.
"I am going to meet with the foreign minister on Wednesdayto discuss these things," Sande told Reuters.
He welcomed Statoil's investigative commission as "broad andgood".
"It looks like they are taking this seriously," he said, butnoted the board of Statoil would be able to decide who sees thefinal report.
"I would hope that it would be possible to have access tothe report externally."
Statoil, which is majority controlled by the government,said the report would be made public.
BP (BP.)
