By Jamal Adel.
Tripoli, 25 May 25, 2014:
Nafoura oilfield, northeast of the Jalu . . .[restrict]oasis, resumed production yesterday, after an eight-month disruption. Simultaneously, production at the Sarir oilfield came to a halt because Petroleum Facility Guards (PFG) at Harega oil terminal at Tobruk have gone on strike over unpaid salaries promised in earlier arbitration by Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni. They are preventing oil tankers docking and as a result tanks are almost full.
“Production at Nafoura oilfield resumed yesterday after a disruption of eight months,” general manager at Sarir, Bashir Mohammed Shalouf, told the Libya Herald.
The oilfield, operated by Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO), produces 50,000-55,000 barrels a day, and has two pipelines: one to Ras Lanuf terminal, the other to Zueitina oil port. Production came to a halt when Ibrahim Jadhran forced a closure of eastern oil ports eight months ago.
“The Nafoura has only produced some 5,000 to 6,000 barrels since its resumption yesterday,” said Shalouf.
The Sarir and Messla oilfields, which together produce up to 350,000 b/d stopped yesterday because oil tankers were unable to enter Harega oil port because of action by the local PFG.
“We have fully stopped pumping from Sarir oilfield to Hariga oil port because the oil reservoirs at the port will be full in eight days. We are continuing to pump from Messla to Hariga, however,” Shalouf explained.
“This disruption in production was caused by members of the PFG, who are striking at the port because they have not received the salaries promised them,” added Shalouf.
With the election of the Ahmed Maetig, promises of compensation for members of the PFG made by Ahmed Al-Thinni appears to have been forgotten.
The spokesman of PFG was unable to comment. He told this newspaper that he knew nothing about what was going on as he was on holiday.
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