By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 23 December 2013:
Libya’s Ministry of Oil and Gas announced today that it is producing an average of . . .[restrict]233,889 barrels of oil per day, up to 21 December 2013. It is also producing just over two million (2,058,500) cubic feet of gas.
Libya’s oil production, which had reached 1.5 million b/d after the 17 February Revolution, has been the subject of numerous political, social and economic demands ranging from the Cyrenaica Federalists in the east, the Tebu and Tuareg in the south and the Amazigh in the Nafusa mountains. There have also been stoppages by the war injured and for various labour despites since 2011.
The minority Amazigh, Tebu and Tuareg populations, suppressed for years under Qaddafi, are taking full advantage of a weak interim government to press home political demands, using oil and gas sources and pipelines in their regions as leverage.
Last week, the Ministry of Oil and Gas put out a statement listing the oil terminals and refineries that were working and those that were closed. It read:
- Zawia Oil Port and Refinery: Work is going on as normal, but the Sharara oil field, which feeds the Zawia oil refinery, is closed by groups demanding that the Tamazight language to be included in the constitution. The refinery is being supplied temporarily by crude oil from Sirte.
- The offshore Bouri platform for oil and gas exports is functioning normally.
- Al Jurf sea terminal is operational.
- Sidra terminal is closed by groups demanding federalism.
- Ras Lanuf terminal is closed by groups demanding federalism.
- Ras Lanuf refinery is closed by groups demanding federalism.
- Brega oil terminal is functioning normally. The urea and ammonia factories are not working due to technical problems .
- Zueitina terminal is closed by groups demanding federalism; others are demanding employment.
- Tobruk Refinery is operating normally. The port is closed down for several reasons.
- Mellitah terminal, company and fields as well as other fields affiliated with it are working normally.
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