Protesters in Libya are threatening to close down two oil and gas facilities near Tripoli, with one group giving a 72-hour ultimatum that ends on Friday. The Corruption Eradication Movement has demanded the removal of the Chairman of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) over alleged violations amounting to the level of crime. They have also issued a threat to stop the pumping of gas from the Mellitah complex, a joint venture between NOC and Italy’s Eni, which would disrupt the supply of gas through the Greenstream pipeline between Libya and Italy.
Eni has declined to comment on the situation, and NOC was not immediately available for comment on the latest threat.
In addition to the demands for the removal of the NOC Chairman, the protesters are also calling for job opportunities for young people near the oil facilities and measures to prevent environmental pollution. The group’s spokesman, Salem Mohamed, warned that if the authorities do not respond to their demands, the movement may escalate into civil disobedience.
Since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya’s oil sector has been a target for political protests, with both local and national groups seeking a greater share of state revenue and political changes. However, it remains unclear whether the latest protesters have the capacity to actually close down the facilities.
The Corruption Eradication Movement has also threatened to close NOC’s Zawiya refinery, which is connected to the 300,000 bpd Sharara field. NOC declared force majeure on Sunday in Sharara production, following its closure by protesters from the Fezzan region last week pressing demands for “better services”. NOC has stated that the closure of Sharara has suspended the crude oil supplies to Zawiya terminal.
NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara met with Fezzan region leaders on Tuesday to discuss the repercussions of the force majeure.
(Reporting by Reuters Libya newsroom; editing by Barbara Lewis)
