The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has expressed its concern at reports of imminent conflict between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Petroleum Facilities Guards (PFG) at Zueitina port, and called for both sides to avoid further destruction to vital national infrastructure.
NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla (pictured) said in a statement:
“We ask both sides to respect the facilities at Zuetina.
“They and the oil in storage there belong to the people of Libya, and can be used for the economic reconstruction of our country. A resumption of oil exports from Zuetina will benefit all Libyans. The PFG and the LNA have a responsibility in front of all the Libya people to preserve the infrastructure there. A battle in which they are destroyed is not one that should have been fought.”
“I ask both sides to withhold from actions that could damage the infrastructure, including using the facilities as a physical shield. I also ask both sides to give NOC safe passage now, before any operation commences, to move the oil in storage at the port to a safe location.”
“Our great preference is to avoid conflict, so that lives are spared and senseless long-term damage to our economy is avoided.”
(Source: NOC)