Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) wants to lift the Sharara oil field force majeure in Libya, after all members of the ‘civilian’ armed militia are removed, according to NOC's statement on Tuesday.
The NOC announced that the company's chairman Mustafa Sanalla met with the chairman of the Presidency Council (PC) Fayez al-Sarraj and representatives of the international community in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to discuss the necessary measures to lift the force majeure.
According to the NOC, at the meeting the NOC chairman reiterated his desire to resume production and all parties present also expressed their wish to swiftly resolve the crisis and restart production as soon as possible.
The NOC added that despite all concerned parties not being present at the meeting, the company is seeking assurance from the general command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) that all outstanding arrest warrants would be served and that wanted parties would be removed from the field.
'Sanalla stressed NOC’s zero-tolerance policy towards extortion and insisted that all measures to resolve the crisis take place within the framework of national and international law,' the company noted.
“Previously announced security guarantees and arrangements at the site must be implemented to prevent further acts of aggression and violence against Libya’s oil sector workers. Under no circumstances will future threats to staff be tolerated,” Sanalla was quoted as saying in the statement.
Libya's Sharara field has been closed since December last year after members of the Maghawir Brigade seized control, crippling oil exports that the country mainly depends on for revenue.
Libya's NOC declared a force majeure on Dec. 10, stating the Sharara oil field shutdown would cause a production loss of 315,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The Sharara oil field is currently under control of forces loyal to east Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar, known as the LNA. The Haftar forces, which are supported by the Tobruk-based House of Representatives forces, announced three weeks ago that they took “full control” of the oil field.
Libya has struggled to maintain oil production since 2011, when longstanding President Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a NATO-backed uprising, triggering years of political turbulence and unrest.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr