Libyan state firm Zallaf Oil’s planned 30,000 b/d South Refinery project close to the southern oasis town of Ubari appeared a step closer to reality this week with the government greenlighting tendering for the €600mn ($660mn) project. Included in the plans are also an LPG bottling plant to be supplied by both the refinery and a planned gas processing plant for currently flared associated gas from the 300,000 b/d El Sharara field (MEES, 8 October 2021). UK firm Petrofac, which carried out the refinery’s feasibility study, is thought to be eying an EPC award. Progress will likely depend on Libya’s ever-tenuous political situation (MEES, 11 March).