Libya, backed by the international community plans to return to the pre-war levels of oil exports, Foreign Minister, Mohamed Taher Siala, revealed.

This is coming after the country’s National Oil Corporation in Tripoli and its rival in Benghazi decided to cooperate and allow export to resume in Libya.

“On the question when the first export of oil should begin: you know that sanctions were imposed against Libya and a request for relief has already been sent. Exports were halted back then, but there are deliveries now… in accordance with international agreements. I believe that oil exports can again reach the previous levels with western support,” Siala told Sputnik news.

The main goal is to make sure that exports recommences from the Hariga terminal in Tobruk and Libyan production could increase by 300,000 bpd.

At present, no side has been able to export crude oil. No oil has been exported from the west because the pipelines remain shut down by forces while the Hariga port, the only terminal operating at the moment with a capacity of 120,000 bpd, has been blocked by both NOCs.

The Benghazi based NOC in April, tried to export its first cargo of oil but the vessel was blacklisted by the United Nations (UN) and had no choice but to return to Libya.

Since then, Libya’s eastern government has blocked the Tripoli NOC’s tankers from loading crude to the Hariga port, thereby resulting in a standoff between the two NOCs.

Due to this standoff, the country’s oil output has dropped to more than 200,000 bpd compared to the 1.6 million bpd being produced before Muammer Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.

The Tripoli based NOC which is working with the new UN-backed unity government since March to revive oil output, has cautioned that output could drop further in May if crude oil is not exported and storage tanks are not filled up at Hariga port.

Anita Fatunji