Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced today a state of force majeure at its Zueitina port and warned of what it called ‘‘the start of a painful wave of closures at a time of an oil and gas price boom’’.
It explained that after the forced closure of the El-Feel field last night, workers at Zueitina, Mellitah, Sarir and AGOCO were forced to shut down production completely and gradually on Sunday, April 17, including the following fields and producing GOSP’s:
First: Stopping production of crude oil in the fields: Abuatufol, Al-Intisar, Anakhla and Nafura produced through Zueitina.
Second: Shutting down production of gas and condensate from the Abuatufol gas plant.
Third: Shutting down production of the injection plant in 103D field of Zueitina company.
Fourth: The production of the gas plant at the port of Zueitina was shut down and therefore shut down production of cooking gas C3 & C4.
Fifth: Electricity production will be affected in Zueitina stations and Northern Benghazi partially, and the shortage of condensates will lead to a shortage of cooking gas supplies in the eastern region.
These interruptions were caused by the entry of a group of individuals into the port of Zueitina and prevented workers from continuing to start exports, which made it impossible for the NOC to implement its contractual obligations, the NOC explained.
The NOC reported that its chairman Mustafa Sanalla and Board of Directors said ‘‘The National Oil Corporation is obliged to declare a state of force majeure on the oil port of Zueitina, including all fields and producing stations associated with this port and shipping facilities until further notice.’’
“We all have the same eye, but some politicians don’t have the same view,” Mustafa Sanalla was quoted as saying. ‘‘The NOC has always stressed the importance of neutralizing the oil sector and avoiding the political conflicts in the country, and warned against being dragged behind calls that do not serve the interests of the nation and the citizen, but no life for the one you’re calling ” he said.
“We urge the general Libyan people to form a local public opinion aimed at maintaining the flow of oil to the world markets and taking advantage of the current price boom, all with the aim of promoting the country and repairing what has been destroyed by the wars, and in response to our situation, it seems after all these years that we need more than ever to build people before the stone.” Sanalla said.