In a tweet, the German Ambassador to Libya Oliver Owcza said that he held highly constructive exchange with the Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed El Hwej, under the slogan “Let’s make the economy part of the solution.!”
According to the ambassador’s tweet, the meeting focused on the economic model that Libya will pursue, how the climate for private initiative can be improved and how cooperation can be strengthened.”
The Third German-Libyan Economic Experts Forum, organized by the General Union of Libyan Chambers of Commerce, started on Monday at the Mahary Hotel in Tripoli, with the presence of the Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Hwej, National Oil Corporation chairman, Mustafa Sanalla, the German Ambassador to Libya and a number of German company officials, and the chairman of the General Union of Libyan Chambers of Commerce, Mohamed Raeid.
The forum aims to discuss cooperation opportunities between Libya and Germany in various fields, including oil, transportation and communications.
The head of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdul Hamid Dbaiba, sent an official letter to the Minister of Finance in the government regarding the implementation of Law No. 27 of 2013.
The letter issued on 27 March 2021, indicated that the decision comes within the framework of raising the standard of the living for Libyan families, through a support allowance for a wife and her children.
Dbaiba asked the Minister of Finance to initiate urgently the necessary procedures for the disbursement of the grant determined under the aforementioned law, with retroactive effect from 1 January 2021.
The letter added that the disbursement will take place without interruption, in coordination with the Governor of the Central Bank and the Minister of Social Affairs.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Sunday that an oil spill north of the country has been brought under control.
In a statement, the NOC said the leak occurred in one of the supply lines of the Dahra oil field.
“Technical teams were able to complete the work and halt the leak,” the statement said, while the cause of the spill was not announced.
According to the oil corporation, the leak did not affect production operations.
Mohammed Al-Huweij, Minister of Economy and Trade, and head of the ministerial committee handling proposals for lifting fuel subsidies in Libya discussed during a meeting on Sunday alternatives to fuel subsidies.
The meeting discussed proposals for alternatives to fuel subsidies and subsequent measures, detailing the pros and cons of each option.
Al-Huweij said the best alternative will be based on a comprehensive economic study of the government’s capabilities and people’s living conditions, adding that it should prioritize the purchasing power of people and then be of a light financial impact on the state’s treasury.
He added that the ministerial committee will consider the available alternatives that have positive impact on people and will study the proposals to see the way they can help the Government of National Unity limit smuggling fuel operations and better living conditions for citizen, adding that the meetings are held to review the alternatives and draft a final one to the Prime Minister’s office.
Libya’s El Farag gas field is currently producing 15,000 b/d of condensate and 70 MMcf/d, Ali el-Farsi, a media coordinator at Waha Oil told S&P Global Platts.
The company restarted phase 1 of the El Farag gas field in November after an eight-month hiatus and by April 7 the second phase will resume, the statement said.
“This is a vital, important and strategic project that will support the electric power plants, and despite the scarcity of spare parts due to poor funding and the country’s conditions, we will work to operate the second phase soon,” said Waha Oil Chairman Nouri Al-Seid.
After the completion of the second phase, El Farag will be able to produce 180 MMcf/d and 15,000 b/d of condensate, Seid said, which will significantly boost the reconstruction of Libya’s power facilities.
The gas from the field is sent via pipeline to the Sarir Electricity Production Station, while the condensate is piped to the Gialo oil field where it is blended into Es Sider crude.
Waha Oil operates a cluster of oil fields in the Eastern Sirte Basin, making up about a third of Libyan crude oil production, with a capacity to pump around 350,000 b/d. The company is a subsidiary of state-owned National Oil Corporation
During a press conference in Tripoli with the German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, and the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Libyan Foreign Minister, Najla Al-Mangoush, reiterated on Thursday that she and her French, German and Italian counterparts had agreed on the need to remove all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya.
Al-Mangoush said she had discussed with her European counterparts facilitating the visa requirements and procedures for Libyans to European countries from inside Libya, saying it was very important to speed up the reopening of their countries’ embassies and consulates in Libya.
“Libya’s stability in the region will reflect positively on the neighboring countries, including Europe. Libyan sovereignty is the Foreign Ministry’s strategy and is not up for negotiations”. She added.
For his part, the German Foreign Minister indicated that the removal of foreign mercenaries from Libya is a major condition for Libya to move into holding general elections next December, adding that the European Union will continue to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire in Libya.
The French Foreign Minister indicated that Paris “urges for the departure of all mercenaries from Libya,” calling for the reopening of the coastal road that connects east and west Libya, and said his country supports the unity, sovereignty and stability of Libya.
The Italian Foreign Minister remarked that his country was very glad to hear about the reopening of oil exports from Libya and the work of the GNU on the urgent matters in the country, saying that Rome would continue to monitor the ceasefire agreement implementation and arms embargo in Libya.
Director-General of the Libyan Customs Authority, Suleiman Ali and his Tunisian counterpart, Youssef Zouaghi signed an agreement on Thursday to reactivate operations of the joint customs port at the Ras Jedir border post.
In a statement, the Libyan Customs Authority said that the two officials “agreed to re-operate the joint customs port at Ras Jedir, overcome all obstacles the impede the flow of goods between the two neighbouring countries, and facilitate all procedures regarding the entry of travellers through the border crossing.”
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, passed on to the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, a strong message of support; affirming the European Union’s readiness to intensify its cooperation with the new government, and to provide the necessary support according to its needs and priorities, as per the European Union’s statement.
The statement indicated that “Borrell” suggested during a phone call with “Dbeibah,” on Wednesday, cooperation in areas in which the European Union could provide expertise and added value, such as institution-building, economic governance, and preparation for national elections in December 2021, in addition to security and defense policy through the joint venture of the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya and Operation IRINI of the European Union Naval Forces in the Mediterranean.
The chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohammad Younes Menfi, will visit Turkey on Friday at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During Menfi’s first visit to Turkey after taking office, relations between Turkey and Libya will be reviewed in all aspects, Turkey’s Communications Directorate said Thursday.
The talks will also focus on steps to further develop cooperation between the two sides, bilateral relations and current regional and international issues.