Oil tanks

  (Reuters)

Libya's crude oil output has fallen by 300,000 barrels a day to around 1.3 million for a combination of reasons, including political protests disrupting operations a day ahead of national elections, the chairman of the National Oil Corporation said on Friday.

"You are talking about a shortage in daily production of about 300,000, plus or minus," NOC Chairman Nuri Berruien told Reuters by telephone.

He said political protesters had prevented the lifting of crude from certain terminals in the east and cited storage and market factors as reasons for the cut.