Oil production in Libya
Production rose from nothing in 1956 to about 160 tones in 1970. There was then a stead fall in production till the late 1970s when production increased. Government policy is to produce oil at a stead rate so as to conserve resources. Government wants to limit production as much it is physically fertile.
Libya’s oil is almost sulphur free. It is cheap to transport oil from Libya to Europe than from Persian Gulf tom West Europe. Libya has large amounts of natural gas. This is first liquefied before export. Liquefaction is carried at Marsa-El-Brega in the Mediterranean sea.
The British, Dutch, Italian, German and Spanish firms invested large firms of money in Libyan oil operations. Oil from Libya is carried along the pipelines.
Map of Libya Showing towns which have developed as a result of Oil
Activity
QUESTION FIFTY SEVEN
Study the table below and answer questions that follow:
OIL PRODUCTION IN AFRICA OVER 20 YEARS (000) TONS
|
COUNTRY |
1959 |
1969 |
1974 |
1979 |
|
ANGOLA |
50 |
2,460 |
8,700 |
6,700 |
|
CONGO |
- |
24 |
2,400 |
2,600 |
|
EGYPT |
3,400 |
12,960 |
11,700 |
26,400 |
|
GABON |
750 |
5,030 |
9,200 |
10,800 |
|
LIBYA |
- |
149,700 |
73,500 |
99,800 |
|
MOROCCO |
95 |
58 |
30 |
48 |
|
NIGERIA |
555 |
27,000 |
113,500 |
114,500 |
|
TUNISIA |
- |
3,710 |
4,100 |
5,500 |
|
ZAIRE |
- |
- |
- |
1,000 |
|
ALGERIA |
2,230 |
43,840 |
48,300 |
50,100 |
|
TOTAL
(WORLD) |
981,900 |
2,073,000 |
262,000 |
2,999,00 |
(ii) Which country experienced the lowest increase between 1959-1979?
(b) What is the importance of oil in industrial production?
(c) Name six products got from oil.
(d) Mention 5 factors responsible for the country named in (a) (i) above to be the largest producer of oil in Africa.
POSSIBLE ANSWER:
(a)(i) Nigeria experienced the highest increase (1959-1979) by about 113,950,000 tones.
(ii) The least increase in the same period was by Morocco by 47,000 tones.
Oil is a major source of fuel or energy for example petrol, diesel, kerosene and gas.
Oil serves as a raw material for chemical plants to produce synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, candle wax, shoe polish, lubricants, ointments, glycerine paints and adhesives.
Oil also works as a feed stock raw materials for ammonia, nitric acid and urea.
Oil provides lubricants and fuel to engines in factories for heating system.
Countries having oil always receive a lot of royalties from the oil companies and the funds generated are used in developing oil related industries which save the countries from importing.
Provision of foreign exchange.