Libya's sovereign wealth fund, the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA), is reported to be interested in taking over the Petroplus oil refinery in northwestern France, which is currently in bankruptcy proceedings.
France's Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg told RTL Radio that he had received a letter from the fund saying they would like to examine the possibility of investing in the refinery.
The deadline for offers to take over the site was 1600 GMT on Monday, but the Minister said he would request an extension to allow a possible Libyan bid to be considered.
According to a France24 report, last month the court ordered the Petit-Couronne refinery be liquidated, rejecting two takeover offers from Dubai-based NetOil and Alafandi Petroleum Group, which is based in Hong Kong, but it allowed the refinery to continue operating for two months.
Shell owned the Petit-Couronne refinery from its creation in 1929 to its sale to the Swiss company Petroplus in 2008.
The refinery, which is situated near Rouen, in Normandy, employs 470 people.
(Source: France24)
