LIBYA: NOC Hopeful Regional Countries Behind Oil Blockade Will Lift It After Weeks Of Negotiations

NOC has confirmed there have been ongoing negotiations to resume oil production over the past several weeks with the between the GNA, NOC and regional countries, under the supervision of the UN and the US. The corporation adds that is hopeful that those regional countries will lift the blockade allowing NOC to resume its vital work for the benefit of all the Libyan people.

“NOC is determined that the agreement will guarantee transparency and that oil revenues will achieve social justice for all Libyans. The corporation also intends the agreement will include solutions to protect the oil facilities and make sure they are never used as a military target or a political bargaining chip again.”

Earlier this week NOC said it is deeply concerned by the presence of Russian and other foreign mercenaries inside Sharara oilfield after a convoy of vehicles entered the field on the evening of Thursday June 25, 2020 and met with representatives of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG).  NOC termed the presence of the mercenaries  as  attempts by foreign countries to prevent the resumption of oil production and an attempt by this countries to benefit themselves from the absence of Libyan oil from global markets.

NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla commented: “ Some of them cynically express their public regret for Libya’s continued inability to produce oil while all the time working in the background to support blockading forces. We need patriotic, professional, and independent security forces who will facilitate the resumption of oil production for the benefit of all the Libyan people, with revenues allocated fairly and transparently across the whole of Libya. While foreign mercenaries continue to be paid vast sums of money to prevent the NOC from carrying out its essential duties, the rest of the Libyan population suffers, not just through the absence of oil revenues but also through the loss to the nation of the disastrous decay of our oil infrastructure through corrosion and the inability of NOC staff to carry out essential maintenance,” he concluded.