UN Welcomes Libya's NOC Announcement on Lifting of Oil Blockade

On Saturday, the acting Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Williams and the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) Aguila Saleh praised the announcement by the National Oil Company (NOC) on the lifting of oil exports blockade.

The two sides discussed, during a meeting held on Friday in Geneva, the revival of political dialogue, Speaker Saleh’s initiative, and the need to intensify efforts to achieve an inclusive political solution to the Libyan crisis.

They asserted the necessity to avoid any obstacles in oil flow, as it belongs to all Libyans; and urged that revenues expenditures be managed transparently and professionally.

Williams also appreciated Saleh’s support to an immediate and lasting ceasefire, especially in Sirte.

She and Saleh urged foreign actors to stop their negative interference in Libya, facilitate and support the political process to prevent a recent humanitarian and economic catastrophe in Sirte and the Oil Crescent.

"On Friday, Libya’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) lifted force majeure on all oil exports. The tanker ‘Crete Bastion’, will be the first ship to be loaded from the Sidra oil port," the NOC said.

Libya and oil blockade

Oil, the lifeline of Libya’s economy, has long been a key factor in the civil war, as rival authorities jostle for control of oil fields and state revenues.

Libya has the ninth-largest known oil reserves in the world and the largest oil reserves in Africa.