The chairman of the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation (NOC) has rebuked the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), following his meeting with the leader of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG).
Mustafa Sanalla (pictured) sent the strongly-worded letter, seen by both Reuters and Libya Herald, to UN's Martin Kobler telling him it was a mistake to rewardPFG boss Ibrahim Jathran for his blockade of the oil ports of Ras Lanuf, Es Sider and Zueitina.
Kobler met with Jadhran on Thursday in Ras Lanuf, following which the PFG confirmed that it would implement an agreement with the Government of National Accord (GNA) to reopen the ports "within days"; according to Reuters, the terms for ending the blockade have not been made public, but an initial payment for salaries for Jathran's men has been agreed.
Sanalla said this "sets a terrible precedent and will encourage anybody who can muster a militia to shut down a pipeline, an oilfield, or a port, to see what they can extort ... My only conclusion is that you are either ignorant of the consequences of what you are doing, or you have set an almost unbelievably low standard for your achievements in Libya."
The full text of the letter is available here.
(Sources: Reuters, Libya Herald)
