Home>News Center>Industry News>Content

Industry News

Libya's Tobruk regime threatens to attack ISIS ships,N but can do little else

Jul.16--BRITISH maritime security firm MAST says the restructuring of port facilities in Libya will only happen when a central government is in place.

MAST chief operations officer Gerry Northwood said the National Oil Company (NOC) had lifted the force majeure declared last December at the Ras Lanuf oil terminal in the Gulf of Sidre.

Once operational the facility could increase Libya's oil exports by up to 300,000 bpd.

"Under force majeure Ras Lanuf was not a target for ISIS. As it returns to working status, it is likely to be of increasing economic importance to the Tobruk regime and ISIS forces may therefore see it as a potential target for attack," said Mr Northwood.

"Care must therefore, be taken by vessels visiting Ras Lanuf. The Tobruk-based government has threatened to attack any vessel [on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast] they believe is assisting ISIS.

"Vessels heading towards Ras Lanuf should make it clear to the authorities where the ship is heading in order to reduce the risk of being attacked," he said.

"UN sponsored unity government negotiations appear to have stalled, with the Tripoli regime withdrawing from talks," said Mr Northwood.

"However, the UN process will continue and it is likely that a series of ad hoc discussions will take place between the various factions," he said.

"These talks will be partly driven by the common interest in fighting ISIL, but achieving the level of agreement required to form a unity government is unlikely in the near term,N" he said.

 

【Close】