By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 10 August 2016:
In a fresh joint statement expressing their concern about rising tensions in the eastern oil terminal of Zueitina, the governments of France, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US have said that all the facilities there must be transferred “unconditionally and without preconditions or delay” back to the what they said were the “legitimate national authorities recognized as such by UN Security Council Resolution 2259”.
This is deemed to the National Oil Corporation (NOC) headquartered in Tripoli and headed by Mustafa Sanalla, although the Presidency Council has not formally named him as the organisations’s chairman.
There were fears that there would be fighting over the terminal this week after a 150-man-strong Libyan national Army (LNA) unit moved to just 10 kilometres away from the terminal. It is currently guarded by Petroleum Facilities Guards loyal to Ibrahim Jadhran, an inveterate foe of LNA leader General Khalifa Hafter.
Calling on all parties to refrain from hostilities and avoid any action that could damage or disrupt Libya’s energy infrastructure, the five governments noted that restoring oil exports was vital to providing the income needed to deliver essential services such as electricity, healthcare and infrastructure.
“It is in the interests of all Libyans that they fully support the efforts led by the GNA to provide these key services to the Libyan people,” a statement read.
The western allies also insisted that the Government of National Accord work with the NOC to restore oil production.
