Libyan protestors halt exports

The protesters first raided the port last Tuesday (16 July 2013) hours after workers at Libya’s Zueitina Oil Company temporarily suspended a strike and resumed production at oilfields that pump to the terminal.

An engineer working at the port told Reuters the group arrived and asked that operations be shut down.

“A ship bound for Italy was being loaded with crude and I had to negotiate with them to allow the loading to continue. It was difficult to convince them but the ship is being loaded. All other export activities are shut down,” he said.

Apparently, the protestors shut down the terminal for several weeks earlier this year demanding jobs. It is now understood they are campaigning for a change in management relating to work conditions.

Zueitina Oil Company is said to pump between 60,000 and 70,000 barrels per day (bpd), but its terminal is thought to have the capacity to handle about 20% of Libya’s crude oil exports.

Oil Minister, Abdelbari al-Arusi, said on Sunday 21 July 2013 he had met representatives of the protesting workers in Tripoli and hoped an agreement would be reached soon.