Skip to main content

Author: LS

Libya oil production comes to halt, affects economy

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on Libya oil production comes to halt, affects economy

Anadolu Agency reported that the civil war in Libya has brought oil production and exports to a grinding halt, creating financial strain on the UN-recognized Libyan government based in capital Tripoli.

Since January Haftar’s forces have shut down oil facilities in the central and eastern parts to damage the economy and put pressure on the legitimate government.

“Ironically, the armed group called Petroleum Facilities Guards affiliated with Haftar closed oil facilities in Sidra, Ra’s Lanuf, Briga, Zueitine, and Hariga just the day before Jan. 18 International Berlin Conference to find solutions to the Libyan crisis,” the report stated.

the oil production activities of Sharara and El-Fil oil wells in the south of the country had been earlier stopped by these groups in February 2019.

According to the Libyan Petroleum Institute, responsible for the extraction, refining, and export of petroleum, the country has the largest oil reserves in the African continent.

Due to the closure of oil wells and restrictions put by pro-Haftar armed groups, the Libyan economy suffered a loss of $5 billion in January 2020.

From 2016-2019, the country has already lost more than $100 billion, as Ibrahim Cadran, an Haftar ally interrupted the oil excavation in the east of the country.

Cadran has formed a group called Petroleum Facilities Guards to prevent the movement of petroleum products from oil fields.

While international energy institutions say that most of Libya’s oil reserves have remained untapped, the conflict has hit extraction of oil from the existing resources.

The country’s largest oil and gas facilities, such as Sidra, Ra’s Lanuf, Brega, and Zueitine, are located in the war-torn east of Libya on the Mediterranean coastline.

The production in the area accounts for 60% of oil exports in the country.

OPEC, Russia discuss extending oil cuts for 1-2 months

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on OPEC, Russia discuss extending oil cuts for 1-2 months

OPEC and Russia are moving closer to a compromise on extending current oil output cuts and are discussing a proposal to roll over supply curbs for one to two months, three OPEC+ sources told Reuters on Monday.

OPEC+ decided in April to cut output by a record 9.7 million barrels per day, or about 10% of global output, to lift prices battered by a demand drop linked to lockdown measures aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

Tensions between US and Russia over Libyan money

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on Tensions between US and Russia over Libyan money

Moscow on Saturday denied US reports that $1.1 billion in Libyan money printed in Russia and seized by Maltese authorities was counterfeit.

The US State Department hailed Malta’s announcement about the seizure, saying it was “ordered by an illegitimate parallel entity”.

Russia’s foreign ministry insisted that the notes printed by Joint Stock Company Goznak – a Russian state-owned company – were legal tender.

Friday’s statement from the US State Department, said: “The Central Bank of Libya headquartered in Tripoli is Libya’s only legitimate central bank.

“The influx of counterfeit, Russian-printed Libyan currency in recent years has exacerbated Libya’s economic challenges.”

There was no official statement on Saturday from Valletta, although Malta Today newspaper had published a report about $1.1 billion in counterfeit money seized in Malta on its Facebook site that was no longer available.

But the statement Saturday from Russia’s foreign ministry said: “We would like to note that under the conditions of de facto double power in Libya, there are currently two central banks.”

“What are false are not these Libyan dinars but the American declarations,” it added.

Goznak meanwhile issued its own statement to Russian news agencies, insisting that a UN committee had examined the delivery of the cash and had found no violation of the sanctions in place against Libya.

In a December report to the UN Security Council, UN experts said Goznak JSC had delivered the equivalent of some $7.11 billion in Libyan money between 2016 and 2018 to the parallel central bank.

The US State Department said it would continue working with the United Nations and international partners “to deter illicit activities that undermine Libya’s sovereignty and stability…

” This incident once again highlights the need for Russia to cease its malign and destabilizing actions in Libya,” it added.

Strict precautionary measures for returnees from Saudi Arabia

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on Strict precautionary measures for returnees from Saudi Arabia

The Director of the Crisis Committee for COVID-19, at the Ministry of Health, Fawzi Onis, highlighted on Sunday the Ministry’s intention to set up strict precautionary measures to monitor citizens returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, even after initial laboratory testing is complete.

He also explained on that all returnees from Saudi Arabia will be subject to, not only testing and quarantine, but monitoring by relevant follow-up teams, to protect the health and safety of all citizens, by ensuring that strict adherence to quarantine procedures is followed.

Armed militia prevents NOC teams from conducting repair work

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on Armed militia prevents NOC teams from conducting repair work

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said, on Saturday, that an armed militia is preventing the maintenance of a pipeline of Sharara oil field, which raises the specter of a real environmental tragedy.

In a statement on Facebook, the NOC said that an armed militia commanded by a person called Abedelkarim Alrouni has prevented the maintenance teams affiliated to Akakus Oil Operations from opening Alhamada valve in order to pump chemical substances that would help protect the transfer line from corrosion.  

“As we have already warned technical problems resulted from the blockade of the petroleum installations started to appear by the corrosion and collapse of the Tank D101B at the area of tank GOSP 115   of 16,000 barrels at Sharara Field occurred yesterday morning because of the formation of a pond of crude oil at the tanks area which predicts the occurrence of many technical and environmental problems in the oil sector,” NOC added.

The NOC has addressed the public prosecution and the concerned authorities to investigate the incident and arrest those responsible for such acts, insisting that the NOC is a purely economic body whose task is to manage the oil sector and support the national economy.

While the NOC did not clarify to whom the militia belongs, it called on the elders and dignitaries of Zintan city in the western mountain region located near Alriyayna area to prioritize the national interest over any other consideration and lift the social and legal cover on the perpetrators.

It urged them to cooperate with the Public Prosecution Office in order to bring those responsible for such acts to justice.

“We must remember that the losses of the State of Libya resulted from closing of the oil pipelines and ports have exceeded 5 billion dollars and amounted to US $ 5,026,074,163. These amounts could have been used in combating the coronavirus pandemic, pay the employees’ salaries, maintenance schools, hospitals and the destroyed infrastructure. This issue predicts a huge economic disaster according to economists,” NOC underlined.


Libya: Parliamentarians Calling For An Immediate Ceasefire

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on Libya: Parliamentarians Calling For An Immediate Ceasefire

Members of parliament unveiled on Sunday an initiative for a political solution, echoing the one proposed by House Speaker Aguila Saleh, to resolve the ongoing conflict in Tripoli between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Accord (GNA).

In a statement, Forty four members of the House of Representatives renewed Saleh’s proposal of the formation of a new Presidential Council and a new national unity government.

The parliamentarians also called for a ceasefire as a prelude to the political solution.

They emphasized that the unity and independence of Libya are indisputable constant, that combating terrorism is a national duty that everyone is obligated to, and that weapons are only in the hands of state institutions.

Libyan premier, French FM discuss latest developments in Libya

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on Libyan premier, French FM discuss latest developments in Libya

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj spoke over the phone with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and discussed the latest developments in his country.

In an official statement, the Libyan government said the two stressed that attacks by the militia loyal to renegade commander Khalifa Haftar on capital Tripoli must stop.

Haftar’s militia struck Tripoli with rockets on Sunday, killing five civilians.

Turkey may begin oil exploration in three to four months under Libya deal

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on Turkey may begin oil exploration in three to four months under Libya deal

Turkey may begin oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean within three or four months under a deal it signed with Libya, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Friday.

Turkey says it creates an exclusive economic zone from its southern coast to Libya’s northeast coast, and protects its rights to natural resources.

“Within the framework of the agreement we reached with Libya we will be able to start our oil exploration operations there within three to four months,” Dönmez said while speaking at a ceremony to mark the launch of Turkey’s Fatih oil-and-gas drilling ship, which is setting off to the Black Sea.

U.S. eyes use of security brigade in Tunisia amid Russia concerns

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on U.S. eyes use of security brigade in Tunisia amid Russia concerns

The United States is looking to use one of its Security Force Assistance Brigades in Tunisia, its military said on Friday, amid concern over Russian activity in Libya.

Libya’s civil war has drawn in regional and global powers, prompting what the United Nations has called a huge influx of weapons and fighters into the North African nation, in violation of an arms embargo.

“As Russia continues to fan the flames of the Libyan conflict, regional security in North Africa is a heightened concern,” the United States Africa Command said in a statement.

“We’re looking at new ways to address mutual security concerns with Tunisia, including the use of our Security Force Assistance Brigade,” it added.

Covid-19 cases in Libya reach 118

Written by LS on . Posted in News. No Comments on Covid-19 cases in Libya reach 118

The National Center for Disease Control analyzed on Friday , May 29, 423 blood samples. The center confirmed that 410 samples have tested negative for Covid-19 and 13 samples tested positive.

In a statement, the NCDC stated that it has received 423 samples from its Tripoli, Misrata, Sabha, and Benghazi labs, where the results showed 410 negative samples and 13 positive samples that were in contact with the previously announced cases of Sebha.