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On Saturday, the US embassy in Libya welcomed what appears to be a “Libyan sovereign agreement” between the warring parties to direct the activities of the National Petroleum Corporation, highlighting its importance in getting rid of foreign interference and “break the cycle of looting.”
“The Libyan Arab Armed Forces have transferred to the US government Field Marshal Haftar’s personal commitment to allow the entire energy sector to reopen by September 12,” the embassy added in an official statement.
The statement said that US Ambassador Richard Nuland and in an exchange of correspondence with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, as well as in his recent discussions with a wide range of Libyan leaders, Qadad highlighted the importance of the National Oil Corporation. and “their support for a financial model that would provide a reliable guarantee that oil and gas revenues will be managed transparently and preserved for the benefit of the Libyan people.”
The embassy welcomed “what appears to be a Libyan consensus that the time has come to reopen the energy sector. At a time when Libyans are experiencing a serious crisis in the electricity sector resulting from the forced shutdown of oil production and gas, and facing the Corona pandemic, as well as the threat posed by foreign mercenaries and armed groups. ” In critical energy infrastructure “.
The embassy statement listed the benefits reflected in this decision in the interest of the Libyan people through financial independence and the provision of necessary reforms to get rid of foreign interference in the country.
He said that this decision will allow the opening up of the energy sector to move forward on much-needed reform of security arrangements for NOC facilities, including the complete withdrawal of foreign military personnel and equipment at oil and gas sites without approval. of Libya and a Libyan agreement to reform the Guard of Petroleum Installations and break the cycle of looting that is practiced by some armed groups against the energy resources that all Libyans possess “.
The embassy stressed that the “immediate implementation” of these commitments is “vital to improving the well-being of the Libyan people. Reliable guarantees will allow all Libyans to have full confidence that oil and gas revenues will not be misused. The opening of the The energy sector will also allow progress in terms of the necessary reform. ” Strongly for the security arrangements for the National Oil Corporation facilities. ”
The cities of East Benghazi and West Tripoli recently witnessed protests denouncing power outages and living conditions.
The most important reason behind the deterioration of the electricity supply is the lack of fuel necessary to operate the power plants, and Haftar’s forces have accused the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation of not importing enough fuel to operate the plants.
The National Petroleum Corporation had warned of worse power outages in the east of the country last month, saying the shortage was due to the blockade imposed by Haftar’s forces on oil and gas facilities for months.
Libya has witnessed chaos and violence since the fall of the regime, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011, and a conflict between two authorities: the reconciliation government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, based in Tripoli, and an authority in the east. of the country supported by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
