Two key oil terminals in Libya on the verge of reopening

Libya’s unity government is in talks with an armed brigade to re-open two main oil ports in the country.

This was revealed by a member of Libya’s presidential council led by prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj during a visit to Tripoli on Monday.

“We are not saying that we will go back to pre-revolution levels this year but we expect production to rise. We are in discussions with the Petroleum Facilities Guards of the central region and we expect in the coming two days to reach an agreement to reopen the oil fields,” said Musa al-Koni.

With a combined export capacity of 600,000 bpd, the Es Sider which is the country’s biggest oil port and Ras Lanuf the third largest have been closed since 2014, following attacks by both armed factions and Islamist militants, lowering Libya’s oil production to about 350,000 bpd .

The news follows positive remarks about re-opening the terminals from Ibarhim Jathran, commander of the Petroleum Facilities Guards who control the ports.

The move is considered as a step towards stabilising the situation in the north African country, that has been facing civil strife over the last 5 years.