Hurghada talks bear fruit; bring Libya's oilfields back to work

Libya's oil wells are returning to work following talks between Libyan rivals in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Hurghada on security arrangements.
Libya has the largest
oil reserves in Africa. It has the world's ninth largest oil reserves.
The El-Sharara oilfield in Murzuq Desert returned to work, a move considered a
breakthrough that will contribute to improving Libya's economic conditions.
Oil wells working again
Libya's Petroleum Corporation
announced the return of El-Sharara oilfield to work
following nine months of suspension.
It said on website that
the field would resume its production in the light of the highest security and
safety measures.
The corporation noted
that the guards of the field who are affiliated to the Libyan National Army had
pledged to ease the work of the field.
This comes after
positive consultations under the auspices of the United Nations, the
corporation said.
It added that the
consultations that took place in Hurghada focused on security arrangements,
especially when it comes to the oilfields.
Deputy Head of the
Tripoli-based Presidential Council, Ahmed Metig, considered the resumption of
production at the field an important step on the road of bringing Libya's other
oilfields back to work.
This, he added, would
help Libya resume its oil exports.
He noted that the
reopening of the field was a result of the economic agreement that was reached
recently.
This agreement will
pave the road for realistic political consultations that end the sufferings of
ordinary people, Metig said.
The Libyan National
Army declared on September 18 the resumption of the work of Libya's oil
facilities, following nine months of closure.
This came after an
agreement was signed by the army and the deputy head of the Presidential
Council.
The agreement
stipulates the formation of a technical panel to manage the production and
selling of oil and the distribution of revenues from this sale.