By Ahmed Elumami.
Tripoli, 4 January 2014:
The National Oil Corporation has said that it is extending its declaration of force majeure at . . .[restrict]three eastern export terminals because of the activity of “armed groups”. It has also repeated its warning that no crude should be lifted from these ports without its authorisation.
NOC’s move over the terminals at Sidra, Ras Lanuf and Zueitina comes as the ports continue to be blockaded by forces led by Cyreanican separatist leader Ibrahim Jadhran.
NOC warned its existing customers and all other traders tht they should only to send vessels to load or discharge at these ports under Libyan state laws and regulations. It said that it is the only legally authorised body to sell oil, gas and derivatives.
“Any ship or oil tanker entering the Libyan territorial waters to buy or sell oil and gas with ports that have been mentioned, the Ministry of Defence will deal with them as a illegal target” NOC spokesman, Mohamed Al-Harrari, told the Libya Herald.
He added that any transactions or agreements signed with “another body” will be considered invalid and cancelled because they would not be legitimate. He stressed that companies attempting to be involved in such trade would face “legal accountability”.
NOC originally declared force majeure last August at Brega as well as Sidra, Ras Lanuf and Zueitina . However this evening Harrari said that Brega was now operating normally. Brega has three crude oil berths with an aggregate loading volume of 51,000 b/d.
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