Libyan officials said on Monday that that navy has blocked an oil tanker from illegally loading crude from the eastern port of Es-Sider, which has been held for months by armed protesters demanding more autonomy from Tripoli.
A National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed:
"The Libyan navy... dealt on Sunday with a Malta-flagged tanker which tried entering Es-Sider port in cooperation with an illegal group to load and smuggle crude oil ... The Libyan navy prevented the tanker from reaching Es-Sider."
The tanker Baku was reported to have been chartered by a company called Royal Asset Management.
NOC extended on Saturday its force majeure for the ports, a legal term to cover the suspension of contract obligations.
(Source: Reuters)
