Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation (NOC) has announced that Libya's crude output still stands below 400,000 bpd after attacks by Islamic State militants on its oil facilities last week.

“Production of crude oil today is less than 400,000 barrels, it's still the same”, the spokesman of NOC Mohamed Al-Harari said.

IS militants last week clashed with Libya’s Petroleum Facilities Guard causing fires at seven oil storage tanks; five in Es Sider and two others at Ras Lanuf.

NOC on Monday announced that it has relocated the oil storage tanks at the Ras Lanuf terminal following attacks. Al-Harari, however, denied the report.

“When the two tanks were on fire, about 30,000 to 40,000 barrels were transferred to a different place but not out of Ras Lanuf”, he said.

According to Trade Arabia, IS militants has used the security situation in the country to enlarge its presence, although it has not taken charge of any oil installations there.

Anita Fatunji