OREANDA-NEWS.  The entire monthly export allocation of Libya's light sweet Sarir and Messla crudes will be lifted by Swiss-based trader Glencore starting next month, stemming from a swap arrangement.

Libya's state-run NOC has agreed an 18-month arrangement whereby Glencore will supply around 300,000 t/month of high-sulphur gasoil in exchange for lifting all crude exported from Libya's eastern Marsa el-Hariga terminal. Marsa el-Hariga normally ships around 130,000-160,000 b/d of Sarir and Messla crude.

NOC itself normally lifts a significant share of Sarir and Messla crude from Marsa el-Hariga terminal for its western 120,000 b/d Zawia refinery, owing to the absence of feedstock crude from the southwestern 280,000 b/d Sharara field, which has been shut since late last year due to unrest.

Marsa el-Hariga is one of only two onshore terminals in Libya currently export light sweet crude, the other being Marsa el-Brega. No crude is being exported from Zawia, Mellitah, Ras Lanuf, Es Sider or Zueitina, due to unrest at fields or terminals.