Tripoli, 31 August:
The Ras Lanuf oil refinery has resumed operations for the first time since shutting down during last year’s revolution.
The refinery, which is reported to be operating at 50 per cent capacity, is offering two cargoes of jet fuel for loading in September, according to the Reuters news agency.
With a total processing capacity of 220,000 oil barrels per day, Ras Lanuf is Libya’s biggest oil refinery, accounting for around 58 per cent of its 380,000 bpd total.
The refinery has been dogged by repeated delays to its reopening, with reports of an imminent resumption of operations going back as far as last December.
It is understood that delays have not been the result of technical deficiencies at Ras Lanuf but rather disputes between the NOC and its UAE-based partner, Trasta Energy, who jointly operate the plant. [/restrict]
