The Guardian, a British daily newspaper stated that under a deal under discussion for the past two weeks, the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) – one of the few institutions that has avoided a split between the country’s east and west – would restart production and exports, but the oil revenue would not be sent immediately to the Tripoli-based Central Bank of Libya, which Haftar’s eastern faction has accused of failing to hand over its fair share.
The distribution of oil revenues has been a focal point of grievance fuelling Libya’s civil war. Successive blockades of the oilfields have deprived the NOC of as much as £6bn revenue.
Proposals in the talks include that the revenues be split between as many as three banks representing different regions, with an agreement not to use them for military purposes. Eastern tribal leaders are being consulted on the plans.
Last week a convoy of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group, believed to be acting with the consent of Moscow, entered the giant Sharara oilfield accompanied by Sudanese fighters in a show of force designed to protect territory controlled by forces supporting Haftar.
An NOC spokesman confirmed there were talks and said: “We are hopeful that those regional countries will lift the blockade and allow us to resume our work for the benefit of all the Libyan people. We need to resume work immediately to save our infrastructure and the Libyan economy.
“NOC is determined that the agreement will guarantee transparency and that oil revenues will achieve social justice for all Libyans. The corporation also intends the agreement will include solutions to protect the oil facilities and make sure they are never used as a military target or a political bargaining chip again.”