1.8 million barrels of crude oil have been lost in the fire which is said to have been raging for almost two weeks now in the Libya’s biggest oil port, Es Sider, and have destroyed seven storage tanks and several other facilities, bringing the total loss to about $250 million.
The problem started three weeks ago when forces loyal to a rival government in Tripoli tried seizing the biggest port from forces of the ruling and recognized Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni. The fire started as a result of the intense battle and explosions in the port.
According to Reuters, “Thinni has been forced to work out of the east since a rival group called Libya Dawn seized Tripoli in August, setting up its own government and parliament that is not recognized by world powers.”
Meanwhile, resources that supposed to have been used to cater for the warfare of the people of Libya continues to waste away while the rival forces battles for control of the oil facilities of the two major ports.
“Without the two ports, which accounted for around 300,000 bpd of exports, Libya’s total output was in the range of the 380,000 bpd reported on Sunday” Mohamed El Harari, a spokesman for state National Oil Corp (NOC) said.