Page 14 - AfrOil Week 34

AfrOil PERFORMANCE AfrOil

Libya begins loading first shipment

of condensate in six months

LIBYA LIBYA’S National Oil Corp. (NOC) has begun as saying in the statement. “NOC is continuing
loading hydrocarbons into a tanker for export to make every effort to alleviate the suffering of
at the Brega terminal with the intent of carrying Libyans in all parts of the country. We reiterate
out its first shipment in more than six months. our calls to end the illegal blockade of our facili-
In a statement, NOC said it was using the ties so that we can do our job and meet local fuel
Valle Di Siviglia, an Italian registered oil tanker, consumption needs.”
to export some 30,000 tonnes of gas condensate. The company issued its statement one day
The vessel arrived at Brega early on August 24, at after the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by
the request of the company, and began loading Khalifa Haftar, publicly rejected the cease-fire
its cargo soon afterwards. declared on August 21 by the country’s UN-rec-
NOC went on to say that it was sending the ognised Government of National Accord
condensate to market in order to free up storage (GNA). The breakaway LNA indicated late last
capacity available at the terminal. The additional week that it was interested in a truce, a move
capacity will allow Libya to continue extracting that might have led to negotiations on a deal
natural gas at the current rate of around 160mn that would allow Brega and other coastal ter-
cubic feet (4.53mn cubic metres) per day, it minals to resume regular operations. (Indeed,
explained. The extra gas will help thermal power Haftar had actually declared the ports and
plants (TPPs) in the eastern part of the country other infrastructure facilities open on August
increase electricity production and reduce out- 19.) However, it soon shifted course, ostensibly
ages, it added. out of concern that the GNA was preparing an
It also noted, though, that these volumes assault on its position in Sirte, the site of another
would not be sufficient to cover domestic terminal. ™
demand. Libya needs another 90 mmcf (2.55
mcm) per day of gas but cannot obtain it, partly
because it cannot afford to import fuel and
partly because many of its coastal oil and gas
facilities remain closed, the statement said.
Blockades persist
Mustafa Sanalla, NOC’s chairman, commented
that Libya’s eastern regions would benefit from
the decision to put more gas into storage for
power generation. He also stressed, though, that
those regions had been under great pressure,
owing to the continued blockade of oil and gas
infrastructure facilities.“Electricity blackouts
in the eastern region due to lack of gas is one of
[the] effects [of the blockade],” he was quoted Brega is one of Libya’s coastal oil terminals (Satellite photo)

POLICY
Total to work with Mozambique on security

MOZAMBIQUE FRANCE’S Total has entered into a security pact of activities at Mozambique LNG. The project’s
with Mozambique’s government to help protect consortium will provide the force with logistical
its $20bn Mozambique LNG venture. support.
The move comes weeks after a key port near “This memorandum ... reinforces security
the construction site of the venture’s LNG plant measures and endeavours to create a safe oper-
was captured by Islamic militants. ating environment for partners such as Total,
The major has signed a memorandum of allowing for their continued investment in the
understanding (MoU) with the government on Mozambican industry,” the government said in
forming a joint task force to ensure the safety a statement on August 24.

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 34 26•August•2020