Libya’s NOC threatened by Cyrenaica oil deal and new Jathran blockade

Attempts to market crude oil separately from the established system controlled by National Oil Corporation (NOC) in Tripoli have intensified in the aftermath of the collapse of United Nations’ unity government proposals. African Energy has learned that two small Dubai-based oil traders have struck a deal with the rival Cyrenaica-based NOC management to lift a cargo of crude from Arabian Gulf Oil Company (Agoco)’s Marsa Al-Hariga terminal in early November. Even if this deal does not succeed, muscular international intervention is probably now needed to prevent Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni’s increasingly desperate and frustrated government in Tobruk from pushing a similar transaction through before long.