TUNIS: Tunisia will import 450,000 barrels of oil per month from Libya between August and December and 650,000 barrels each month next year, Tunisia's industry ministry said on Wednesday.
Tunisia has endured more than two years of political instability since the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011 and is struggling with energy shortages, sliding currency reserves, falling tourism and a soaring budget deficit.
"The crude will be delivered at a rate of 450,000 barrels per month starting August until December 2013 and then at 650,000 barrels monthly in 2014," the ministry said in statement sent to Reuters.
While no prices were disclosed, Tunisia in April asked authorities in neighbouring Libya to sell it at preferential rates.
Libya returned to its pre-war oil output of nearly 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) since the 2011 uprising which ousted Muammar Gaddafi, however the OPEC member has struggled to maintain steady levels as protests and technical problems have hit production rates over the past year.
A senior Libyan oil industry source told Reuters on Tuesday that the country's oil output had fallen to 1.16 million bpd due to disruptions at fields and terminals. (Reuters)
