Tripoli (AsiaNews) – Petroleum Facilities Guard commander Ibrahim Jadhran announced that oil exports from the ports of As Sidr and Ra’s Lanuf will resume within 24 hours.
Jadhran spoke at a press conference today, following yesterday’s visit by UN special envoy for Libya Martin Kobler to the Ra’s Lanuf oil facilities on the central Libyan coast.
The area is considered Libya’s main oil hub. The decision to reopen it is an economic shot in the arm for Libya’s internationally backed government under Fayez al-Sarraj.
Commander Jadhran also said that a delegation from the Presidency Council came to Ra’s Lanuf to ink the deal to resume oil exports.
Security at the facilities will guarantee safety for all oil transport, including international shipping.
For his part, Kobler underscored the importance of ramping up exports as soon as possible. He also thanked those who guard the oil facilities from Daesh.
Likewise, he expressed gratitude to Commander Jadhran for supporting the Al Sarraj government and Libya’s “political accord”.
This oil-producing region of Libya can deliver 900,000 barrels of crude per day, a source of wealth that was hit hard during armed clashes at the end of 2014, when eight facilities belonging to Libyan oil companies of Al Waha and Al Heruj were damaged.
Even before Kobler’s visit, commander Jadhran had already announced on 7 July that oil exports would resume "in a week from the ports of As Sidr and Ra’s Lanuf." (PB)
