CAIRO/BENGHAZI: A self-styled rival government controlling Libya’s capital announced its own oil policies this week, drawing a rebuttal from Prime Minister Abdullah Al Thinni who said oil revenues continued to go to the elected government.
Libya is in turmoil, with two competing governments vying for control after Operation Dawn, an umbrella of armed groups from the western city of Misrata, seized Tripoli in August, forcing Thinni’s government to withdraw to the east.
The Misrata-led forces have since formed their own rival parliament and government, which has taken over some ministries and effectively controls parts of western and central Libya, part of the turmoil three years after the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.
Oil traders are concerned about the uncertainty over who is in charge of Libya’s vast oil reserves after the Misrata group appointed its own oil minister and took over the official website of state firm National Oil Corp (NOC).
The power struggle over the oil ministry adds to the uncertainty for the oil industry which had just started to show signs of recovery after Thinni managed to end a blockage of major eastern ports by a groups of rebels demanding autonomy.
In an interview with local news agency Press Solidarity, the newly appointed oil minister, Mashallah Al Zawi, said the ministry was working to resolve oilfield protests and discussing early retirement schemes for staff to make room for fresh recruits.
“The ministry is working to resolve the issue of sit-ins by youth through dialogue and by meeting some demands,” he said, outlining his policies the first time, according to the agency’s website. Thinni, whose government is recognised by the international community, responded from Bayda, a town east of Benghazi, where his government has relocated and trying to stay in contact with ministries almost 1,000 km away in Tripoli.
He said oil revenues for the Opec member state continued to enter a Libyan bank, which transferred them to the central bank.
“They are under the control of the state of Libya and the government approved by the Libyan parliament,” he said, referring to the elected House of Representatives, which has moved to Tobruk, east of Bayda near the Egyptian border.
Libya’s de facto oil minister is the chairman of National Oil Corp, Mustafa Sanallah, who has given no statement since his appointment by the Thinni government last month Reuters
