By Sami Zaptia.
London, 22 September 2020:
Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) yesterday confirmed the resumption of operations at its ‘‘safe’’ Hariga and Brega oil ports.
It had announced the lifting of force majeure on these on Saturday (19 September) but refuses to commence operations in ports and oilfields it deems unsafe, which translates to still being occupied by pro Hafter local or foreign forces/ mercenaries.
This comes after the ‘‘agreement’’ between Libya National Army (LNA) commander, Khalifa Hafter, and (Faiez Serraj’s) Presidency Council Deputy, Ahmed Maetig, to resume oil production and exports.
The NOC added that there is now a gradual return of engineers and national employees to their positions in the oilfields and ports to start production operations as a first step, from the ports of Hariga and Brega, and as a second step at the rest of the ports ‘‘as determined by the security and safety reports’’.
It said that export arrangements have begun from safe ports, and the oil tankers will start to arrive in succession from September 23 to ship the available crude in the tanks within the next 72 hours and the rest of the safe ports in the next few days. The statement did not name these other ‘‘safe’’ ports. It said total production is expected to reach about 260,000 barrels per day during the next week.
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/09/20/noc-to-resume-oil-production-exports-but-only-from-safe-oilfields-and-ports/
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/09/19/the-maetig-hafter-proposal-to-resume-oil-exports-analysis/
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/09/19/noc-refuses-maetig-hafter-resumption-of-oil-production-and-exports-in-presence-of-forces-in-oilfields/