East Libyan forces mobilize for counter attack at oil ports

East Libyan forces have said they are mobilizing ground forces in a move to regain two of Libya’s largest oil ports. Forces loyal to Libyan National Army (LNA) lost control of the ports of Sider and Ras Lanuf last Friday to the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB). LNA war planes conducted strikes near Ras Lanuf and Es Sider early on Monday, but failed to dislodge the new occupants. The LNA took control of the ports of Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, Brega and Zueitina in September 2016. This more than doubled national output from 350,000 bpd, although it still remained at less than half its 1.6m bpd pre civil war level.

Meanwhile, North P&I said that it had received information from local P&I correspondents on the status of Libyan ports:

Open Ports:

Mellitah

Zawia

Tripoli

Misurata

Marsa El Brega

Tobruk

Al Khoms

Marsa El Hariga

Farwah

Bouri

Zuwarah

Es Sider

Ras Lanuf

Zuetina

Closed Ports:

Benghazi

Derna

Sirte