Libya allows BP to drill offshore as storm weakens near Gulf

LIBYA will allow BP to move ahead with its offshore drilling plans next month, despite the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the country’s oil chief said yesterday.

Shokri Ghanem said the contract signed with BP in 2007, permitting the British oil giant to begin drilling in the deepwater Mediterranean region in July, will be honoured.

Meanwhile, tropical storm Alex weakened to a depression yesterday.

Although Alex could eventually become a hurricane, it is projected to touch down on the Mexican coastline later this week well away from the area where BP is trying to stop the oil leak, the US Hurricane Centre said.