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The article reports that Arabian Gulf Oil Co. (Agoco), a Libyan state-owned enterprise, will resume operations at its two refineries. The resumption of operations coincides with the start-up production at the Sariri and Mesla oil fields. The combined capacity of the two refineries is 30,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, National Oil Corp. (NOC) chairman Nuri Berruien announced that the oil production in Libya will return to its prewar levels late 2012.

The article reports on the goal of the forces who opposed to the rule of Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi to restart oil production from the North African nation to increase revenues. Rebel Oil and Finance Minister Ali Tarhouni said the National Transitional Council (NTC) hoped to resume oil production of about 100,000 barrels/day (b/d). The article also cites a statement by Libya's defecting labor Minister Ali Al-Amin Manfur that Gadhafi's regime is selling oil on the black market to raise cash.

The article discusses the protest aired by Libya's National Oil Corp. (NOC) against Qatar's efforts to sell oil to Libyan rebels. It mentions that NOC Chairman Shokri Ghanem has sent a letter to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) about the incident. The author reports that Qatar's state news agency has pointed to Qatar's ruler Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani as having issued the directive for sale of oil to the Libyan opposition.

The article discusses reports of bombing Libya's oil facilities in March 2011 as the country's leader Moammar Gadhafi accuses the rebels of paving the way for a new colonial era that is deemed to allow the U.S., Great Britain and France to control its oil wealth. Loyal Gadhafi forces allegedly struck an oil pipeline and storage facility as they fired artillery at rebel forces. It is believed that oil facility damage is imminent and that Libya has already been discounted from the global markets.

The article reports on the resumption of crude oil production in Libya by Total SA and Eni SPA in October 2011. Output was also restarted by state-owned Sirte Oil from its eastern gas fields, according to a company spokesman. Eni's production is predicted to reach 140,000 barrels per day (b/d), but the absence of foreign oil contractors is negatively affecting the recovery of the Libyan oil and gas industry, according to Mellitah Oil & Gas Chairman Najmi Karim.

The article reports on the potential increase in crude oil production to prewar levels from 2011 to 2012. According to National Oil Corp. chairman Nouri Berouin, the country needs to secure its oil fields by clearing nearby minefields. He adds that the gas and oil industry in the country requires logistical support to increase their output in the mentioned time frame.

The article reports that Libya has stopped all its cooperation with Eni SPA following the participation of Italy in the bombing led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi has told Italy to forget the friendship agreement it signed with Libya and for Eni to look elsewhere for business. According to the article, Eni suspended its operations in Libya and established links with opposition forces in the country.

The article discusses the plans of Libya's Transitional National Council (TNC) to sign contracts with integrated international oil companies to resume production. According to TNC, the future of Libya's National Oil Co. is still being considered and that all finance and oil contracts signed during Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime will be honored. The TNC statement contrasted with the negotiations began by Libya's government with Russian and Chinese energy firms about the Eni SPA's projects in the country.

The article reports on the defection of Libya's Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem from his position and from Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's regime. Former Libyan diplomat Abdel Moneim al-Houni confirmed reports that Ghanem has left the country and went to Tunisia. Other members of the regime who have defected include Justice Minister Mustafa Abdul-Jalil and Interior Minister Abdel-Fatah Younes. The effects of Ghanem's defection on the Ghadafi regime are also discussed.

The article reports that British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for tighter sanctions on Libya's oil and products. Cameron made the announcement in response to reports about the Libyan government's illegal importation of gasoline from Italy. He points out that it is unacceptable for countries to help Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi bypass the sanctions. An overview of how the Libyan government illicitly imported gasoline from Saras is given.

The article reports on the barrels of oil sold by Qatar, United Arab of Emirates on behalf of Libya's Interim National Council (INC). Qatar also disclosed that it has delivered several shipments of petroleum products to the Libyan eastern port of Benghazi through its state-owned International Petroleum Marketing Co. (Tasweeq). The move is said to have been ordered by Qatar's ruler Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

The article reports on the arrival of tanker MT Equator in the rebel-controlled Marsa el-Hariga port in eastern Libya to take up oil for export. Aside from opening up Libya to international trade and shipping, the oil delivery would reportedly provide funds for anti-Gadhafi forces. Oil trader and MT Equator owner Vitol SA did not confirm the destination of the oil.

The article reports on an agreement forged by Libyan rebels with Qatar in August 2011 that will allow them to start exporting oil and accessing the revenues through an escrow account. According to Ali Tarhoni, the rebel representative, the agreement can increase their oil production to approximately 300,000 barrels per day. The role of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in increasing production to compensate the decline in Libya's output is also highlighted.

The article reports on the oil exports from Libya which stopped as of March 2011 due to the rebellion that has curtailed oil field operations and barred transport routes. The International Energy Agency (IEA) confirmed that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members will offset the shortfall in Libyan output. The situation in Libya and Moammar Gadhafi's efforts at bilateral relations with Russia, China, and India are discussed.

The article focuses on the decline in Libya's oil output amid the developing civil war in the country as of March 2011. According to a report by the Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES), many of its oil fields and export terminals are located in parts of Libya that are effectively controlled by opponents of the government. CGES estimated that between 50 and 80% of oil production in Libya has been lost temporarily. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi blamed the armed gangs for the reduced output.

The article reports that international oil companies (IOCs), including Italy's Eni SPA, are either evacuating or planning to evacuate Libya as increased violence continues to threaten the downfall of the country's leader, Muammar Qaddafi. According to Nicolo Sartorim, energy and security researcher at the 1A1 Institute for International Affairs, Italian oil interests are heavily exposed in Libya and stand to lose greatly if the crisis worsens.

This article reports on the attacks carried by forces loyal to deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on the oil refinery at Ras Lanouf in September 2011. The attacks came after the announcement of a plan to resume operations at the refinery. A television broadcast described opposition forces as traitors.

The article discusses the potential of Libya to resume its crude oil production and return to prewar output in more than a year, according to National Oil Corp. (NOC) Chairman Nouri Berouin. He notes that there was no major damage in Libya's oil fields but admits that minefields at the Brega export terminal could delay the resumption of normal operations. The National Transitional Council (NTC) plans to rehabilitate several wells and expects oil and gas exports to increase gradually.

The article reports on a memorandum of understanding signed between Italy's Eni Spa and Libya's National Transitional Council in September 2011. The contract was aimed at enhancing the cooperation and relations of these countries. Under the agreement, the parties involved will commit to the creation of conditions for a fast and complete recovery of the operations of Eni in Libya.

The author discusses speculations in the international oil and gas market of when Libya will resume oil exports as the Libyan rebel forces continue to invade Tripoli. BASF SE's unit Wintershall AG notes that it is too early to predict how, when and what would it take to resume production in Libya. Arabian Gulf Oil Co. information manager Abdeljalil Mayouf claims that Libyan oil companies can resume production anytime if security is approved.

The article reports that Libyan rebels have seized control of an oil refinery located in Zawiyah. According to the article, additional supplies of imported oil products have reached many rebel-controlled areas in Libya. The Zawiya refinery was producing one third below its normal capacity and a pipeline that linked it to Tripoli was cut off. Oil analysts predict that oil production recovery in Libya will take at least 3 years.

The article reports that the government of Qatar is paying the opponents of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi for the Libyan crude oil that Qatar helped to market. The oil and gas support group for Libya confirmed the report and claimed that the payments are being made in U.S. dollars through a bank account in Qatar. It is reported that the money is being used by the rebel forces to purchase basic commodities like food and other aid.

The article discusses the mistrust that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) continues to have as of March 2011. The hostilities in Libya has led to Saudi Arabia's offer to divert their crude oil to Europe in an effort to keep oil prices down. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has assured emergency stockpiles if needed and has coordinated with OPEC for supply despite their oil not being an exact substitute of Libyan's crude and their intent to raise prices.