By Sami Zaptia.
London, 13 February 2019:
The head of the House of Representatives (HoR), Ageela Saleh, yesterday called on the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Mustafa Sanalla, to lift the force majeure status he has imposed on the Sharara oilfield.
This call by Saleh comes on the basis that the Khalifa Hafter-led Libyan National Army (LNA) and it’s aligned forces have taken full control of, and secured the Sharara oilfield.
According to the official Spokesperson for the HoR, Abdalla Belheeg, Saleh also requested Sanalla to communicate and coordinate with the General Command of the LNA regarding security and lifting the force majeure.
Saleh also placed the responsibility of the losses caused by the continuation of the imposition of force majeure on Sanalla.
It will be recalled tha the Khalifa Hafter-led Libyan National Army (LNA), as well as forces aligned to it, claimed that they had taken full control of the Sharara oilfield on Monday.
It is also unclear if there will be a counter move to regain control of the oilfield by the anti-Hafter forces, including forces representing the Faiez Serraj Presidency Council and Government of National Accord in Tripoli.
On Monday the LNA spokesperson Mismari tweeted: Peacefully with no resistance, LNA has full control over Sharara oil field with all its facilities and now securing the location with full coordination with the field administration.
However, the NOC has always refused to lift the force majeure until it was totally satisfied about the security of its staff working on the Sharara field.
It has thus far failed to declare the field safe enough in its view to justify lifting force majeure despite Saleh’s attempts to pressurise it into doing so.
Saleh’s move is an attempt to gain legitimacy and credit for the LNA for freeing the Sharara oilfield from local armed protesters.
https://www.libyaherald.com/2019/02/12/lna-coalition-of-forces-claim-total-control-of-sharara-oilfield/
