Second Tanker Docks at Hariga Since Reopening

A second tanker has berthed at Libya's eastern Hariga port to load oil from its storage tanks since it reopened under a deal between the government and protesters, an oil official said on Tuesday.

The port, located in Tobruk near the border with Egypt, is one of four export terminals to restart work as part of the agreement to end the blockade.

"Hariqa port received today the second shipment and the loading process of 850,000 barrels will start within hours and will finish tomorrow," port terminal manager Rajab Abdulrasoul told Reuters. A first tanker had loaded around 900,000 barrels.

State-run National Oil Corp (NOC) on Monday lifted force majeure, a contractual waiver, on the port of Zueitina. It is unclear when the first tanker will arrive there.

The larger ports of Ras Lanuf and Es Sider were also meant to reopen within four weeks, but there have been delays as the rebels have accused the government of failing to honor all parts of the deal, including paying financial compensation.

Under the agreement, the rebels will be reintegrated into the state oil security force, from which they defected last summer when they occupied the ports to press for a share of oil export revenue.

Diplomats expect both sides to implement the deal eventually, because Libya badly needs the oil revenue, but tactical maneuvers and mutual mistrust are likely to cause further delays.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elumami, editing by William Hardy)