Tripoli-based state oil company National Oil Corporation (NOC) has attempted to ship its first cargo from the Ras Lanuf export terminal since force majeure was declared at the facility in December 2014. Following attacks against the Ras Lanuf and Es Sider terminals by Islamic State (IS) in early January (MEES, 8 January), NOC decided to empty the tanks at Ras Lanuf for safety reasons.
According to an online statement by Tripoli’s NOC on 14 January, the shipment was intended to “unload…remaining reservoirs of crude” from the terminal “to mitigate the damage in…case of repeat fire…accident.” A ship “was contracted” to transport the crude, it said. (CONTINUED - 2011 WORDS)
