Turkey reviews energy ties with Libya

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TRIPOLI, Libya, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Turkey wants a stronger energy relationship with the Libyan government, the visiting Turkish energy minister said during talks in Tripoli.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz met in Tripoli with Libyan Oil Minister Abdulhadi al-Arusi to discuss energy ties.

Yildiz was quoted by The Tripoli Post as saying he left the meetings "satisfied." He said Turkish companies are working in parts in of Libya but it's not enough, however.

"We demanded new fields," he said.

Libya's oil sector was damaged severely by civil war in 2011. Production there ground to a halt during the conflict but has since rebounded to near its pre-war output of 1.6 million barrels of oil per day.

Libyan officials had said production could surpass pre-war production levels as early as 2015. Internal divisions have slowed reconstruction, however.

Libyan war veterans last month forced the shutdown of a refinery to press for better treatment. Similar demonstrations were reported in early November at the 120,000 bpd refinery about 30 miles west of Tripoli.