Libya’s cabinet has approved the development of two greenfield refinery projects: a 300,000 b/d capacity plant at Tobruk in the east of the country, and a 50,000 b/d plant at Ubari in the southeast. However, the government also indicated that the projects are intended to address growing divisions and protests within the country. By linking the projects to local politics the government has effectively blocked any potential interest from commercial oil firms and investors.
Libya’s Prime Minister ‘Ali Zeidan told reporters in Tripoli on 30 October that the cabinet had approved the two refineries, with the Tobruk plant intended to satisfy most of the fuel and refined products needs in Eastern Libya and the smaller plant aimed at meeting the requirements of a less populated area in the south (see map). He added that plans were underway to build a hospital in Tobruk, for which a US firm had made preliminary studies, and a large hospital at Sabha, the largest city in southern Libya. (CONTINUED - 534 WORDS)
