Oil and Gas Minister Mohammed Oun told reporters that exports and operations at Zueitina port were halted again on Saturday after a brief resumption of exports aboard two tankers last week for fear of environmental disaster that would affect pipelines and storage tanks following the shutdown of the port by protesters since April.

Oun added that there were stoppages at Abu Al-Tafel and Al-Rimal oilfields as well as part of Al-Sarir oilfield, saying operations were halted due to shutdown of exports.

Zueitina port exported 1.6 million barrels of oil aboard two tankers last week: the MT Sister and Melos 21 which headed to China and Italy.

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) urged the protesters at Zueitina port in April to allow the resumption of exports for fear of an environmental disaster due to the waxy crude in the tanks.