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.