Libya's oil company to 'immediately restart exports' from seized ports

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Tuesday it would immediately start working to resume crude exports from ports seized in recent days by forces loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar.

#Libya National Oil Corp Chairman says oil exports to resume immediately.https://t.co/B9hPvin0eK pic.twitter.com/wIUfK8OHRx

— Alwasat (@alwasatengnews) September 13, 2016

“Our technical teams already started assessing what needs to be done to lift force majeure and restart exports as soon as possible,” NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said in a statement.

Starting on Sunday, pro-Haftar forces took control of the ports of Ras Lanuf, Es Sider, Brega and Zueitina from a rival force allied to a U.N.-backed government in Tripoli.

Cautioning against the attacks, the UN envoy Martin Kobler said the UN resolution 2259 “clearly prohibits illegal oil exports” from Libya and stated that the country’s oil installations must be under the authority of the Government of National Accord (GNA).

Attacks on #Libya oil terminals further threaten the stability and lead to a greater division of the country

— Martin Kobler (@KoblerSRSG) September 12, 2016

The United States and five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) have together called on “all military forces that have moved into the oil crescent to withdraw immediately, without preconditions”.