The Minister of Oil and Gas in the Government of National Unity, Mohamed Aoun, said during a statement with CNBC Middle East channel, on Wednesday, during the opening activities of the global symposium that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) joins for the period 5-6 July 2023 in the Austrian capital Vienna, that “my advice is to all the Libyan people, whether they are from officials or from the general public, to stay away from closing the oil fields, because it will only harm the people.”
This was when the journalist asked a question to the minister saying if there are any signs on the possibility of the oil fields re-closing. Aoun replied that Libya had gone through this experience in previous years, and so far it is still suffering from its consequences. The evidence is the depreciation of the exchange rate of the Libyan Dinar as it was during the closures of 2013 or 2014 and before, due to the oil shutdown for a period of two or three years.
Aoun added that “there is another dilemma that we may face, which is the production of electricity: as power plants depend mainly on gas, and if the fields are closed, it will directly affect and lead to power outages, and he called on all spectrums of people, citizens and officials, to avoid such actions.” The reporter asked if Aoun meant that the closures can be avoided, and if there are any political will on the ground that will spare oil from being closed. Aoun replied, saying that “this must be avoided. People must be aware that they are the only ones affected, and that the damage will be inflicted on those who call for closures before others.”