Reuters reported that Libya's first crude oil cargo to be shipped in months sailed from the eastern port of Marsa El Hariga on September 25th 2011 bound for Italy.

Libya's port authority chief said that the country, formerly Africa's, third largest producer had exported only 2 other crude oil cargoes since a rebellion erupted against former leader Mr Muammar Gaddafi in February.

Mr Ramadan Boumadyan chairman of the designated committee at Libya's Ports & Maritime Transport Authority said that the Hellas Warrior was carrying a cargo of 381,000 barrels of Libyan crude. It left on September 25th 2011 to Italy.

Libya's pre war production was around 1.6 million barrels per day of oil. A senior source in the National Oil Corporation said that the OPEC member's oil production is set to reach 500,000 barrels per day by early October, helping to boost revenues badly needed to kickstart the economy after 7 months of war.

(Sourced from Reuters)