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By Libya Herald Staff.
Tripoli, 22 November 2013:
Italy is now receiving a steady supply of gas through the GreenStream pipeline, after Amazigh . . .[restrict]militants lifted their blockade on the Mellitah processing complex a week ago.
Snam, Italy’s largest natural gas grid operator, has said that gas flows from Mellitah to the Sicilian Gela entry point reached 3.5 million cubic metres of gas by Wednesday.
The blockade was ended by the Amazigh demonstrators in what they described as an act of national solidarity, in the aftermath of the Friday’s Gharghour carnage.
Members of the Amazigh community from Zuwara had closed the Mellitah complex in October, demanding greater representation for their minority group in the framing of the constitution and the recognition of Amazigh as an official national language.
The Mellitah terminal processes gas, most of which is exported via the GreenStream pipeline and can supply more than ten percent of gas demand in Italy. Gas is also taken by Zawia power station.
A source close to the operation warned that if the Amazigh demands were not met, the blockade might well be resumed. He added: “However I think that maybe the events of Black Friday have been a watershed and the protestors will not resume this action, because they recognise the financial and reputational damage it has done. Most of all it is in Libya’s interests to keep the pipeline open. Gas, Italy can always get elsewhere”.
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