Deal reopens three Libyan oil terminals

Aug. 1, 2016
Three Libyan oil terminals are reported to have reopened after being blockaded since December 2014.

Three Libyan oil terminals are reported to have reopened after being blockaded since December 2014.

The Ras Lanuf, Es Sidra, and Zuetina terminals opened under a deal between the presidency council brokered by the United Nations and Ibrahim Jidran, branch leader of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG).

The group said its blockades of Libyan ports responded to corruption and illicit oil sales.

In a statement welcoming the terminal deal, the National Oil Corp. said the only payments to the PFG were of overdue salaries.

Rival groups threatened to attack tankers approaching the terminals.

Terminal problems are among reasons Libyan production last year averaged slightly more than 400,000 b/d, down from 1.6 million b/d in 2010 before the start of civil war.