By Jamie Prentis.
Tunis, 13 April 2017:
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has rejected accusations it allowed Libyan National Army (LNA) planes to launch and then attack its targets in the south from the Al-Feel oilfield airstrips.
Instead, the oilfield was actually under the control of the Presidency Council affiliated Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), who had shut down oil production since December and lost Libya at least US$ 460 million the NOC said.
Salem Abu Rawi spokesman for the ‘Desert Rage’ operation in the south, claimed that the LNA were using the airstrip to strike targets in the south and thus inflicting misery on civilians.
NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla has demanded the various Libyan factions stop the “desperate and persistent attempts” to drag his corporation into political conflict.
The NOC also underlined that none of its petroleum facilities were used as military bases. In particular, it said it had no affiliation with Ras Lanuf and its airstrip, nor did it supply it with any services such as water or electricity. Ras Lanuf was used exclusively by the LNA it insisted.
The LNA retook the Ras Lanuf export terminals last month from the Benghazi Defence Brigades, an Islamist coalition made up of those displaced from Benghazi and now reported to be operating in the south.
Whilst Al-Feel oilfield remains shut the NOC did announce that it had succeeded in reopening the Al-Wafa pipeline. Sanalla commended the “social and media support” and said it was critical in allowing the pipeline to be reopened.
Nonetheless, he underlined that it was important Libya’s chief asset, oil, stop being used for personal gains and extortion. State institutions must remain open he added. With Al-Wafa feeding the Ruwais power station, energy production would be boosted Sanalla said.
Production will now rise by 9,000 bpd of oil and 7,500 of compensate the NOC said.
Three days ago the Nalut group blocked the pipeline and the NOC warned Libya would lose almost $10 million a day as a result.
The Al-Wafa gas field is operated by Mellitah Oil & Gas Company, NOC’s joint-venture with Italian company Eni.
