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Libya’s NOC: UAE has instructed Haftar to maintain blockade on oil exports

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The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) has condemned the renewed blockade on Libyan oil exports, saying it has been informed that the instructions to shut down production have been given to Khalifa Haftar’s forces by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“This is gravely disappointing, especially following repeated statements by very senior representatives of the UAE last week in support of international efforts to restart oil production in Libya.” NOC explained, calling in a statement on Sunday on the states responsible for this blockade to be held to account by the United Nations Security Council.

“NOC has been forced to declare force majeure on all oil exports from Libya to limit its contractual liabilities.” It added.

Libyan oil exports restarted on Friday with the loading of the oil tanker Kriti Bastion at Es Sider. However, Hafter’s forces ordered Saturday a halt to further exports, reversing their cooperative posture in negotiations.

“Wagner and Syrian mercenaries now occupy Es Sider oil port and Wagner and Sudanese mercenaries are camped within the vicinity of the Sharara oil field, preventing Libyan oil from flowing. NOC urges all mercenaries to withdraw from Libyan oil facilities.” It remarked.

NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanallah said they appreciate greatly the efforts of the United Nations, and the US to restart Libyan oil production and avert an escalation in the conflict.

“If these efforts fail, as it appears they will, there must be consequences for the actions of the handful of states that are undermining the rules-based international order and destroying Libya. They pose a grave threat to Libyan and global security.” Sanallah said.

He added that NOC’s position during the negotiations was clear, as it supports all measures to bring transparency to state financial arrangements, and it opposes any that undermine Libyan sovereignty.

“The renewed blockade demonstrates the urgent need for moves to improve financial transparency to be accompanied by reform of security at oil installations.” Sanallah indicated.

The spokesman for Haftar’s forces Ahmed Al-Mismari announced Saturday several conditions for the reopening of oil ports and fields, saying they allowed, upon Haftar’s orders, one vessel to load for the greater good of the nation, but will keep the blockade on exports and production in place until the conditions are accepted.

The conditions include opening a bank account in a foreign country to deposit oil revenues instead of Tripoli-based Central Bank of Libya in order to distribute them justly to all three regions of the country.

“The Libyan Audit Bureau should ratify the 2015 Skhirat Agreement”— Taha Bara

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During “Flusna”, a television programme broadcasted on WTV channel and Tabadul Platform, the legal expert Taha Baara confirmed that the Libyan Audit bureau has made a transition from the legal to the technical issue in dealing with the matter of auditing.

“If we want to enforce the law, then we should enforce it as one single cluster,” he stressed, citing the need to know the Audit bureau’s view concerning the 2015 Skhirat Agreement only if it is genuinely interested in implementing the law.

If the Libyan audit Bureau is really satisfied with the legitimacy of the political agreement, it must be also convinced of external oversight and audit through chapters acknowledging that it is a legal agreement — such as a Constitutional Declaration for Libya, accordingly, all State Organs have been founded.—

The Libyan Audit bureau must be convinced of the legitimacy of external auditing as well, under Chapter Seven of Article (56), which states that the Government of National Accord may request the Security Council to issue a resolution that endorses this Agreement and supports its implementation, especially in relation to the provision of necessary international assistance to implement it.

The expert also recommended that the Libyan Audit Bureau should ratify the Libyan Political agreement, considering that the external oversight is provided for by the international and national law.

“Previously, the head of the Audit Bureau, Khaled Shakshak, said that the inapplicability of domestic law to the idea of external review is the reason behind the suspension of the external review process. Based on the Banking Law as well as the executive regulation of the Bureau’s Law, foreign companies may not consult the accounts of the Central Bank of Libya.” Said Bara


Latest update of the Covid-19 in Libya

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The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) analyzed on Friday, July 11, 629 blood samples. 

The center confirmed that 582 samples have tested negative for Covid-19 and 47 samples tested positive.

Accprding to the NCDC, the new cases are distributed as following:

  • Sabha: 15 cases
  • Tripoli: 11 cases
  • Alasaba: 8 cases
  • Zlitin: 4 cases
  • Bani Walid: 3 cases
  • Qasr Akhyar: 3 cases
  • Msallata: 1 case
  • Nawahi Arbaa: 1 case
  • Khoms: 1 case

So far, the number of COVID-19 infections in Libya has risen to 1389, with 1011 active cases.

NCDC also confirmed the recovery of 33 patients, raising the number of recoveries to 340.

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UNSMIL, Aqilah Saleh welcome the resumption of oil operations

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Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Libya, Stephanie Williams, and Speaker of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR), Aqilah Saleh have welcomed the announcement of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to lift the force majeure on oil, stressing the necessity to avoid any obstacles in oil flow, as it belongs to all Libyans; and urged that revenues expenditures be managed in a transparent and professional manner.

The two parties discussed during a meeting held yesterday in Geneva, the revival of political dialogue, the recent initiative for a cease-fire, and the need to intensify efforts to find a comprehensive political solution to the Libyan crisis.

Both also called on foreign actors to stop their negative interferences in Libya, facilitate and support the political process in order to prevent a new humanitarian and economic catastrophe in Sirte and the Oil Crescent, according to the statement.

Bumtari and Saied discuss launching joint economic projects

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The Tunisian President Kais Saied, held discussions on Friday with the Libyan Minister of Finance, Fraj Bumtari, initiating several joint projects to develop bilateral agreements in various fields in relation to investment.

The Tunisian Presidency quoted Bumatari as saying, “this meeting is an opportunity to address several issues related to trade cooperation and the ‘free zone’, but also to discuss many other strategic issues”. He also pointed out that the two sides intend to increase cooperation on several levels, in order to create better economic and financial integration between both countries.

Libya and US investigate suspected gold for cash trade between Venezuela and Haftar

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Middle East Eye said in a report that Libyan and US authorities have launched an investigation into suspected gold-for-cash trades between Venezuela and Libyan eastern commander Khalifa Haftar.  

Security officials from the United States, Europe and Libya told the Wall Street Journal that the Libyan government had been tracking Haftar’s private jet, with the help of the United Nations and Washington. 

Haftar’s jet was suspected of carrying gold from Venezuela to West Africa, which then went to Europe and the Middle East, according to the officials.

Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha on Thursday said that the investigation was initiated at the request of the attorney general. 

Libyan and European security officials told the WSJ that Haftar’s associates had airlifted dollars to Caracas due to fears that “his accounts could be frozen if he comes under sanctions”.

The US State Department said publicly that it had been looking into flight tracking that suggests Haftar’s jets had gone to Caracas. 

“We’ve been tracking those reports on Haftar’s trip – alleged trip – to Venezuela,” David Schenker, the US State Department’s assistant secretary for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, said in early June. 

One instance showed Haftar’s jet had travelled on 24 April to Caracas before flying to Switzerland three days later, later landing in the UAE in early May, according to flight tracking from C4ADS, a nonprofit group that gives data-driven analysis on transnational security issues. 

Libyan Oil Crescent: oil exports are expected to restart soon

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A source at the Libyan Oil Crescent has revealed to “Sada” newspaper that oil ports in the region are expected to resume their activities, adding that -currently- there are negotiations concerning this matter.

It should be reminded that Libya’s National Oil Corporation on Friday lifted its force majeure on all oil exports after a half-year blockade by eastern forces

U.S. Embassy welcomes lifting force majeure in Libya

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The U.S. Embassy in Libya said today in a statement that it welcomes the announcement of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) concerning lifting force majeure nationwide and resumed its vital work on behalf of all Libyans, while ensuring in cooperation with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) that revenues are not misappropriated but rather preserved for the benefit of the Libyan people.


 The Embassy said it commends the efforts of all Libyan parties to facilitate NOC operations, adding that it will continue to support financial transparency in Libya and, through UN-led dialogue, a common understanding among Libyans on an equitable distribution of oil and gas revenues.

Latest update of the Coronavirus in Libya

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The number of COVID-19 infections in Libya has risen to 1342, with 997active cases.

The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) recorded 74 new cases on Thursday, distributed as following:

  1. Sabha: 35 cases
  2. Zlitin: 15 cases
  3. Tripoli: 6 cases
  4. Misrata: 5 cases
  5. Zuara: 4 cases
  6. Jufra: 3 cases
  7. Brak al-Shati: 2 cases
  8. Al khums: 2 cases
  9. Janzur: 1 case
  10. Tarhuna: 1 case

NCDC also confirmed the recovery of 1 patient in Sabha, raising the number of recoveries to 307.

The death toll of Covid-19 has risen to 38 after the registration of 2 death in Sabha.

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CBL warns of the low collection of non-oil revenues

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In its latest statistical bulletin, the Central Bank of Libya alerted on the low collection of non-oil sovereign revenues, where the collection defict has reached 54% and hence calls upon the relevant authorities to improve collection of these revenues.

According to the CBL, expenditure on chapter four of the budget (Subsidies) includes 496 million Dinars for the Medical Supplies Organization, 1.7 billion Dinars for fuel, 360 million Dinars for electricity, 115 million Dinars for water and sewage, and 200 million Dinars for sanitation.

The CBL added that the foreign currency revenues defict totaled 3.4 billion US Dollars for the period, which was covered by the CBL reserves, whereby the total foreign currency revenues was 3.6 billion US Dollars of which 2.051 billion US Dollars from oil revenues from 2019 whilst total foreign currency payments for the period amounted to 1.935 billion US Dollars, of which 5.170 billion US Dollars spent to finance the accounts of commercial banks, including 21 million USD for the household head’s providion, 3.634 billion USD for trade finance, 1.455 billion USD for personal transfers for studying abroad and medical treatment, salaries of expatriates, insurance, aviation and payment of personal purposes for citizens.

Foreign currency payments also includede 2.765 billion USD for government transfers including 838 million USD; foreign litigation expnses and foreign transfers for the Ministry of Finance. Moreover, 1.552 billion USD (for the National Oil Corporation covering fuel subsidies and other NIC expenditures), 375 million USD to cover the letters of credit for other public bodies.