Libya regains control of 2 oil terminals: PM

Libya says it has taken back control of two oil terminals in Ras Lanuf and al-Sidra, which had been blocked by militants.

“Today, we regained control of the ports at Ras Lanuf and al-Sidra,” Libyan Interim Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani said on Wednesday during a joint press conference in Ras Lanuf with militant leader Ibrahim Jodhran.
Thani also announced that the oil terminals have been reopened.

He noted that the country’s oil crisis has come to an end following a deal with the militants.

The government struck the deal in April to regain control of two terminals out of four seized by the militants.

The Zueitina and Marsa al-Hariga oil ports were reopened at that time; however, the Ras Lanuf and Sidra remained under the militants’ control.

The Ras Lanuf oil terminal has a daily capacity of 200,000 barrels and the al-Sidra terminal has the capacity of 350,000 barrels a day.

Libya has been witnessing numerous clashes between government forces and militia groups, who played a key role in the 2011 popular uprising that toppled former dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Militants and tribes in both eastern and western oil-producing regions are demanding a bigger share of the country’s oil wealth.