DUBAI: Libya’s Mabruk Oil Operations has resumed production at the Mabruk oilfield after a decade-long shutdown, the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) said in a statement on Wednesday.
Production officially restarted on Sunday at an initial rate of 5,000 barrels per day, according to the statement, with plans for an increase to 7,000 bpd by the end of March and 25,000 bpd by July.
Crude began to be transferred to the nearby Al-Bahi field on Tuesday as part of efforts to improve the efficiency of the country’s oil infrastructure and operations.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) had said it planned to reopen the Mabruk oilfield in the first quarter of 2023 with production up to 25,000 barrels per day.
The field had been closed in 2015 after what NOC described as a “terrorist” attack that cost the company $575 million in field equipment losses.
Libya, holding Africa’s largest proven oil reserves, has struggled to maintain consistent output levels due to internal conflicts and infrastructure damage since 2011.
“This marks a significant step forward in Libya’s oil sector, reflecting improved stability and confidence in our capacity to rebuild and boost the national economy,” Wednesday’s statement said.
Oil production resumes at Libya’s Mabruk field after a decade
https://arab.news/9tsvg
Oil production resumes at Libya’s Mabruk field after a decade
- Production officially restarted on Sunday at an initial rate of 5,000 barrels per day
- Crude began to be transferred to the nearby Al-Bahi field
Baghdad traders protest new customs tariffs
- The demonstrators gathered outside the General Customs Directorate on Sunday, chanting slogans against corruption and rejecting the new fees
BAGHDAD: Hundreds of traders and owners of customs clearance companies protested in central Baghdad on Sunday, demanding that Iraq’s government reverse recently imposed customs tariffs they say have sharply increased their costs and disrupted trade.
The new tariffs that took effect on Jan. 1 were imposed to reduce the country’s debt and reliance on oil revenues, as oil prices have fallen.
Iraq faces a debt of more than 90 trillion Iraqi dinars ($69 billion) — and a state budget that remains reliant on oil for about 90 percent of revenues, despite attempts to diversify.
But traders say the new tariffs — in some cases as high as 30 percent — have placed an unfair burden on them. Opponents have filed a lawsuit aiming to reduce the decision, which Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court is set to rule on Wednesday.
The demonstrators gathered outside the General Customs Directorate on Sunday, chanting slogans against corruption and rejecting the new fees.
“We used to pay about 3 million dinars per container, but now in some cases they ask for up to 14 million,” said Haider Al-Safi, a transport and customs clearance company owner.
“Even infant milk fees rose from about 495,000 dinars to nearly 3 million.”
He said that the new tariffs have caused a backlog of goods at the Umm Qasr port in southern Iraq and added that electric vehicles, previously exempt from customs duties, are now subject to a 15 percent fee.
“The main victim is the citizen with limited income, and government employee whose salary barely covers his daily living, those who have to pay rent, and have children with school expenses — they all will be affected by the market,” said Mohammed Samir, a wholesale trader from Baghdad.
Protesters also accused influential groups of facilitating the release of goods in exchange for lower unofficial payments, calling it widespread corruption.
Many traders, they said, are now considering routing their imports through the Kurdistan region, where fees are lower.
The protests coincided with a nationwide strike by shop owners, who closed markets and stores in several parts of Baghdad to oppose the tariff increase.
In major commercial districts, shops remained shut and hung up banners reading “Customs fees are killing citizens.”
