Three Libya Esharara crude cargoes due for Oct export

Three cargoes of Esharara crude from Libya's restarted 300,000 b/d El Sharara field are scheduled for prompt export from the port of Zawia towards the end of the month, according to two Libyan shipping sources.

One said the cargoes will probably be 600,000-630,000 bl, the typical Aframax-sized load from Zawia. The first October-loading cargo of Esharara is set for 25-26 October on behalf of Azerbaijan's state-owned Socar. The other two are set for 27-28 October and 30-31 October for as-yet-unknown buyers. Aframax-sized cargoes would put exports at an average of 58,000 b/d this month.

El Sharara resumed output on 11 October, after nearly nine months of intermittent blockades, and output is around 140,000-150,000 b/d. State-owned NOC yesterday said it had completed partial maintenance at Zawia's berth 3, ahead of the "imminent return of export operations".

At least 120,000 b/d of Esharara is allocated for November export so far, although the final level will depend on the progress of output increases at the field and on the restart of the 120,000 b/d Zawia refinery, which Libyan and trade sources expect to absorb between 25,000-50,000 b/d of El Sharara crude.

By Ruxandra Iordache