<article><p>A Panama-flagged vessel is making its way to Libya's Ras Lanuf crude terminal to illegally load crude there, a senior state-owned NOC official told <i>Argus</i>.</p><p>NOC issued a statement on its website today that it would take all the necessary legal measures to thwart smuggling of Libyan crude.</p><p>"The NOC strongly emphasises that it will take all appropriate legal measures and judicial action against any unlawful attempts (directly or indirectly) by state agencies, companies, affiliates, organisations, individuals in-country or abroad or any such persons who attempt to operate outside the existing NOC legal, financial, commercial or service frameworks and contracts," NOC said.</p><p>Loadings at Ras Lanuf have been under force majeure since December after fighting between rival militants in the vicinity of the port forced NOC to shut it down as well as the nearby Es Sider terminal.</p><p>Violence has caused significant damage to Libyan oil installations in recent weeks, with militant groups stepping up attacks on oil fields. At least nine foreign oil workers were abducted last week following an attack by militants on the Ghani field, operated by NOC subsidiary Harouge Oil.</p><p>Libya is currently producing 488,000 b/d, according to the official.</p><p>ag/bw</p><p><br> Send comments to <a href="mailto:feedback@argusmedia.com" target="_parent"> feedback@argusmedia.com </a></p><p><u><a href="http://www.argusmedia.com/Info/General/News" target="_TOP"> Request more information </a></u> about Argus' energy and commodity news, data and analysis services. </p><p><i> Copyright © 2015 Argus Media Ltd - <a href="http://www.argusmedia.com/" target="_TOP"> www.argusmedia.com </a> - All rights reserved. </i></p></article>
