LONDON (Reuters) - A Libyan state-owned gasoline tanker has been seized by rebels in a move that traders said is likely to act as a further deterrent to trading with the torn state, trade sources said Friday.
They said the tanker was hijacked while carrying gasoline to the country for the National Oil Corporation.
"It is likely to deter further dealing in fuels," said a trader with a European refiner Friday.
One source said the gasoline cargo might have been supplied by Motor Oil Hellas, Greece's second-biggest refiner. The company could not immediately be reached for comment.
With the destruction of some oil infrastructure in Libya and the partial closure of refineries in the areas of heaviest fighting, both the rebels and Muammar Gaddafi's forces are eager to secure fuel supplies.
Up until last week a handful of companies including ENI
were still dealing with Libya, and the rebel-held oil company Agoco has been looking to trade with international oil firms. The seizure may prove a setback to these plans.
Trade with Libya has been dramatically curtailed since the country descended into armed rebellion and U.S. sanctions were applied.
"Nobody can lift oil from Libya," said one trade source. "All ports in the east are closed. Loading from the west is difficult too ... It's too dangerous to do business in Libya now."
(Reporting by Jessica Donati and Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Ikuko Kurahone; Writing by Claire Milhench, editing by Jane Baird)
