On Saturday, the US embassy in Libya welcomed what appears to be a Libyan consensus to reopen the energy sector, noting that it is encouraged by an apparent sovereign Libyan agreement to enable the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to resume its vital and apolitical work.
In a statement, the embassy said that the US Ambassador Richard Norland has recently exchanged letters with the Libyan National Army (LNA) commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and held discussions with a broad range of Libyan leaders. In these interactions, the ambassador underscored US confidence in the NOC and US support for a financial model that would constitute a credible guarantee that oil and gas revenues are managed transparently and preserved for the benefit of the Libyan people.
The embassy confirmed that the US government was made aware of General Haftar’s personal commitment to allow the full reopening of the energy sector no later than September 12.
The embassy pointed out that both Fayez Al-Sarraj, the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Prime Minister, and Parliament Speaker Ageela Saleh, had called on August 21 for the full resumption of NOC operations with transparent management of revenues.
The embassy stated that the implementation of these commitments is urgently needed to promote the well-being of the Libyan people, who are suffering from an acute electricity crisis rooted in the forced shutdown of oil and gas production, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the threat posed by foreign mercenaries and armed groups against critical energy infrastructure sites.
It added that credible safeguards will enable Libyans be confident that revenues are not misappropriated, noting that the reopening of the energy sector will also enable progress toward a much-needed overhaul of security arrangements for NOC facilities. This overhaul would include the full withdrawal of foreign military personnel and equipment present at oil and gas sites as well as a Libyan agreement to reform the Petroleum Facilities Guard. The main aim of such measures is to break the cycle of predation by certain armed groups against the energy resources that belong to all Libyans.
The embassy also voiced its full support to Libyan parties as they seek to implement a sovereign Libyan solution for the energy sector rooted in the best interests of the Libyan people.