Two of Libya’s main oil ports, ‘Ras Lanuf’ and ‘Es Sider’ are closed and evacuated since June 14, as two militia groups restarted a battle over these facilities’ control. This battle led to a production loss of 240,000 barrels per day (bpd).
At least one storage tank at Ras Lanuf terminal was set on fire, with Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) declaring force majeure on loadings from both terminals.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
The clashes that are taking place Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) and rival armed groups continued tall day at Ras Lanuf, where the LNA is conducting air strikes.
As Reuters reported, military sources said the LNA had withdrawn from both ports. During previous attacks, many tanks at these two terminals sustained serious damages, which have not been fully repaired.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation evacuated all staff from the two terminals, while the production loss is estimated at about 240,000 bpd, with the entry of a tanker at Es Sider on Thursday postponed.
The total loss is forecast to surpass 400,000 bpd if this situation shutdown continues, something that according to NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla, would be a national disaster.
The attack was initially launched by the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB), which in the past had tried again to take the oil crescent and proceed to Benghazi.
The NOC blamed Ibrahim Jathran, the leader of an armed group that blockaded oil crescent terminals for three years, and who appeared in a video announcing the launch of a campaign.
