LNA confirms closure of oil facilities to cut militias funding

CAIRO - 18 January 2020: Spokesperson of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Ahmed al-Mesmary announced on Saturday that the move of oil ports and fields shutdown was made by Libyan people and that it is the Armed Forces’ duty to protect citizens.

On Friday, protesters entered Zueitina oil port northeastern Libya and closed it as tribes’ leaders in the east and south of the country announced a day earlier that the operation of all oil terminals in areas controlled by LNA will be stopped. The tribes leaders’ reason for the action is that the Government of National Accord (GNA) protected by militias uses oil revenues to pay for foreign fighters.

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced on Saturday that the General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces and the Petroleum Facilities Guard ordered the administrations of Sirte Oil Company, Harougue Oil Operations, Waha Oil Company, Zueitina Oil Company, and Arabian Gulf Oil Company to stop exports from the ports of Sider, Zueitina, Harigua, Brega, and Ras Lanuf.

LNA insists on militias dismantling, clashes resume

CAIRO - 14 January 2020: The Libyan foreign ministry issued a statement on Tuesday requesting the international community to fulfill its duties by pressuring GNA-affiliated militias to surrender and give up their weapons obeying the Libyan people's will. Anadolu Agency reported that the LNA is amassing southern Tripoli while Al Arabiya announced that clashes resumed in Salahuddin district south of Tripoli.

The NOC headquartered in Tripoli warned Friday on its Facebook page against the repercussions of oil ports shutdown “prior to Berlin conference on Sunday.”

“The oil and gas sector is the source of life for the Libyan economy and the only source of income for the Libyan people. Oil facilities belong to the Libyan people so they must not be a political bargaining card,” NOC Chairman Mostafa Sonaa Allah.

The chairman added that the closure may cause a fall in exchange rate, huge budget deficit, and the exit of foreign companies working in the sector. The other consequences cited by the NOC chairman is that fields closure will incur an instant loss in production while the closure of ports will mandate the reduction of production and even cutting it when the storage full capacity is reached, which can happen in less than five days.

Sonaa Allah stated, “the National Oil Corporation calls upon institutions that pretend protecting oil facilities to fend off any closure attempt. If they fail, the corporation will have no choice but finding out other solutions to secure the vital institutions of the Libyan people.”

Germany announced that the countries taking part in the conference hosted in Berlin on Libya Sunday include the United States, Russia, China, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Turkey, and others. Germany declared that Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar will attend while Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj confirmed his participation.

Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh requested the Arab Parliament on Wednesday to withdraw its recognition of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) presidential council due to its violation of the constitutional declaration and the political agreement of Sukheirat.

Addressing the Arab Parliament session, Saleh called on the Arab Parliament to support efforts of the Libyan people to counter terrorism and stand against the Turkish invasion of his country.