Tripoli, 7 July 2013:
The country’s oil fields and export terminals are set to reopen tomorrow, following talks between the oil ministry . . .[restrict]and protestors.
Officials from the Ministry of Oil today held negotiations with protestors responsible for shutting down oil exports at Libya’s largest oil terminal Es Sidra, according to the Libyan news agency LANA.
Es Sidra has been closed for three days since Friday, when members of the oil field guard took control of the port, apparently over a salary dispute. Today, there were reports that guards had also taken over the Ras Lanuf oil terminal.
Lengthy negotiations between the protestors and representatives from the Ministry of Oil were apparently successful and an agreement has been reached.
One employee at Es Sidra said that the closure was costing the Libyan government some $25,000 per day for every vessel that was stranded at the port. He also complained that the closure was sending a very negative message to prospective oil buyers. [/restrict]
