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Author: LS

Libyan Economist Says PC’s Decisions Are Arbitrary

In a statement to Tabadul, the Libyan economist Abu Bakker Abu Al Kacem considered the latest decisions issued by the Libyan Presidential Council (PC) including the allocation of an emergency budget for a number of municipalities as arbitrary decisions, adding that the PC did not coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and did not refer to the Central Bank of Libya.

“It is not only a confused decison, but also a passive one… It is a fire-fighting policy.” He said.

PFG spreads Coronavirus to Sharara oilfield

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) expressed its strong dissatisfaction with the continued militarization of its fields after the commander of the southern region, Al-Mabrouk Sahban, entered the Sharara oilfield, which belongs to Akakus Oil Operations Company, by force, on Saturday August 29, 2020.

According to the NOC, Al-Mabrouk Sahban was accompanied by 20 members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG); in complete disregard for the precautionary measures taken by the company to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“In a second instance of the PFG’s disregard for measures to counter the coronavirus, on Sunday August 30, 2020, one of the foreign employees working in the field tested positive for the coronavirus as a result of his contact with members of the PFG” the NOC stated.

NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla said: “The reoccurrence of such incidents threatens our workers’ lives and makes their work a nearly impossible task. We no longer have any authority that enables us to apply preventive measures against Covid-19.

LAA completes Matiga runway maintenance


The Airport Authority of the Ministry of Transport announced on Saturday, the completion of maintenance work for the runway at Mitiga International Airport.

The Authority explained that the maintenance work included the removal of a layer of asphalt along the runway, at a length of 2150 meters, with a width of 16 meters, along with the restoration of part of the foundation paving layers of the runway.

Paint and marking removal work also took place to allow for re-planning and remarking the runway, whilst repairing the lighting system along the runway.

Al-Sarraj allocates emergency budget for municipalities

The Head of the Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sarraj met Sunday with a delegation of a number of mayors from Zintan, Msallata, Gharyan, Al-Zahraa, Al-Azizya, Nalut, Hay Al-Andalus, and Abu Salim.

During the meeting, Al-Sarraj announced the allocation of an emergency budget, to be available next week, for municipalities to enhance the services they provide to people.

He also said that the local revenue system had been approved and the bank accounts of the revenue will be available for use by municipalities in a few days as local authorities would be under the control of municipal councils.

Tankers to Load Oil at Libya’s Brega Port

Two oil tankers are set to load crude at Libya’s eastern Brega port for the first time since January as authorities allow a limited resumption in exports to help relieve a local electricity shortage.

The Suezmax tanker Episkopi arrived at Brega on Sunday to load 600,000 barrels for Vienna-based OMV AG.

The vessel Aegean Myth is expected at the port on Thursday to load a similar-sized cargo, the people said.

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Greek-owned LR2 tanker MT EPISKOPI berthing to load 600k bbls of crude oil from storage tanks at Brega.

Libya reports more COVID-19 cases

The National Center for Disease Control of Libya reported 465 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total confirmed cases in the country to 13,423.

The center said in a statement that the new cases were detected after it received 2,241 suspected samples, adding 77 more patients have recovered and one died, increasing the total recoveries to 1,410 and the death toll to 232.

UNSMIL urges the application of the rule of law

In a statement, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that Libya is witnessing a dramatic turn of events that underlines the urgent need to return to a full and inclusive political process that will meet the aspirations of the Libyan people for representative government, dignity, and peace. 

UNSMIL also urged calm, the application of the rule of law and the preservation of the rights of all citizens to peacefully express their views.