Libya struggles to end protests

摘要

Libya is striving to regain control of its oil export facilities, as striking petroleum facility guards continue to blockade major ports in the east of the country. State-owned oil firm NOC says the disruption is costing Libya $100mn/d in lost revenue from crude sales. But the political consequences are potentially more serious, with the strikes fuelling Libya’s east-west divide. The Libyan interim government has threatened to use force to end the protests and prevent petroleum facility guards from selling crude independently (WPA, 16 August, p8). NOC says an armed group has contacted international oil traders to try to sell them Libyan crude from the port of Ras Lanuf.