Who is in control of Libya’s oil ports?
Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar hands over control of key oil ports after a strongly worded letter from President Trump.
International pressure appears to have worked with Libya’s strongman Khalifa Haftar.
Following fighting with a rival army for control of four oil ports, he’s handed them over to the internationally-recognised National Oil Corporation.
It expects exports of Libya’s lifeblood to get back to normal soon.
Haftar says he’s putting his country first by handing over the oil ports – but his forces retains control of important oil fields.
Libya’s oil crescent stretches along the Mediterranean coast between the cities of Sirte and Benghazi to the east.
The region contains 80 percent of Libya’s estimated 45 billion barrels of oil reserves – as well as huge amounts of gas.
And it contains three of Libya’s largest oilfields, plus refineries producing about 60 percent of exports.
Is Haftar’s change-of-heart enough to change Libya’s fortune?
PRESENTER: Adrian Finighan.
Guests:
Sami Hamdi – Editor-in-chief, International Interest
Salah Al Bakkush – Political analyst, senior adviser to the Negotiating Team of the High Council of States
Tom Pepper – North Africa & East Mediterranean correspondent, Energy Intelligence