He said Libya’s United Nations -backed government in Tripoli and a parliament based in eastern Libya both backed reopening the ports which have been controlled by forces loyal to Haftar since Sept 11-12.
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Earlier this week, NOC said Libya could increase production to 600,000 barrels per day (BPD) within a month and to 950,000 by the end of the year from about 290,000 BPD now.
“Technical assessment teams from the NOC reported that Zueitina and Brega oil terminals are in good status, while Ras Lanouf and Al-Sidra have not been damaged at all during the last clashes in their vicinity”.
The parliament backed the seizure of the terminals, with Speaker Agila Saleh saying Hifter’s forces “liberated” the terminals from “occupiers” who had hindered exports. “They further restrict the oil exports and add to people’s suffering”, adding that the GNA should be respected as the sole executive authority in the country.
The NOC declared force majeure because of the events that prevented the company to export oil in line with its contract obligations beyond the company’s control.
A tanker is ready to load over 600,000 barrels of oil at the Ras Lanuf terminal, the first to arrive at this Libyan port since 2014, Reuters reported on Thursday, a sign that Libya is ready to inject thousands of barrels of oil per day into the market, exacerbating the global oil glut.
He said the shipments had been arranged before eastern commander Khalifa Haftar Libyan National Army (LNA) seized control of Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, Zueitina and Brega on Sunday and Monday.
NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla on Wednesday visited Zuetina port and, finding it and other ports secure, lifted the force majeure on all Oil Crescent ports.
“Instead, we have found a shared interest in letting the oil flow, and the wisdom of that decision needs to be recognised”.
General Khalifa Haftar’s seizure of the ports has been heavily criticised by members of the United Nations backed government of National Accord.
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Libya has been in turmoil, with rival administrations and militias fighting for control of the oil-rich country since the 2011 revolt that ousted longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
