Oil region clashes seriously escalating: Libya FM

Libya’s foreign minister says militant groups are increasing their attacks in the African country’s oil regions in a bid to control the oil resources.

Speaking in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, Mohammed al-Dairi described the clashes as a serious escalation.

He also urged concentrated international efforts to stop the flow of funds and weapons to terrorists, expressing hope that pro-government troops succeed to deal with the terrorist attacks.

This comes as fighting has started near Libya’s largest oil terminal, al-Sidra, which is currently under the control of pro-government forces. The clashes have shut down the Sidra terminal and caused a massive fire.

On Saturday, Libyan officials said it could take at least a week to extinguish the massive fire at al-Sidra oil terminal, one of the country’s largest oil export facilities.

“The extinguishing process requires a week non-stop, provided the necessary equipment is available,” said Hamid al-Habuni, a high-ranking official in the state-run Ras Lanuf Oil Company.

“Firemen and emergency service personnel are doing their best to put out the fire and stop it from extending to other tanks in the terminal amid hard circumstances,” he added.

The fire started on Thursday after militants fired a rocket that hit one of the 19 storage tanks of al-Sidra oil terminal. The fire spread to two other tanks, raising alarm about an environmental catastrophe.

Oil is the main source of revenue for Libya which is a member of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Libya plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. The ouster of Gaddafi gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.