Two Libyan oil tanks set on fire as fighting in oil ports drops output by over 400.000 bpd

BY Libyan Express Jun 18, 2018 - 08:55 Updated: Jun 18, 2018 - 11:22

Fire broke at tank No.2 in Sidra oil port in Libya (Photo: Social Media)

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced Sunday that storage capacity at Ras Lanuf oil terminal had been cut by 400,000 barrels after a second crude oil tank was set on fire amid fighting between rival factions for control of two key export terminals.

The NOC warned that the fire that broke out at storage tank No. 2 early on Sunday could spread to three further tanks, which would “stop exports from Ras Lanuf port completely”.

Such a fire in the tanks would be a major blow for Libya’s oil industry.

Fighting over Ras Lanuf and the neighbouring oil terminal of Al-Sidra began on Thursday, when an armed force led by the former head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) which is opposed to Khalifa Haftar’s so-called army, stormed the terminals.

On Sunday as well, the Head of the PFG Ibrahim Jodran posed with the Libyan Red Crescent as he handed over to them 20 captives from Haftar’s forces, whom his forces captured in the fighting.

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