Day: July 14, 2022

Tripoli-The newly-appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation (NPC) Farhat Bin Gddara asserted that one of the priorities of the Corporation’s management will be the activation of governance systems and commitment to the implementation of the Libyan oil law, which defines relations with international institutions.

“We will work with the highest standards of transparency by disclosing revenues, the way they are accumulated, and what has been spent within the institution and its companies, and the employees in the sector, and I assure oil workers that the planned increase will be implemented within two months,” Ben Gddara said in a press conference on Thursday after taking office as chairman of the board of directors.

He stressed the need for Libya to return to its export levels of oil and gas and that the extraordinary budget of the sector in order to achieve its desired goals, and that international and local parties have agreed that the institution should be run by a personality that does not have political or ideological affiliation, to manage it in a neutral and professional manner.”

Ben Gddara reassured foreign partners to that the board would adhere to all commitments and agreements concluded and would seek with government supervision to develop them.

Regarding claims of his relationship with a particular country, Ben Gddara said regarding my relationship with any country, this is nonsense and its aimed to create confusion, I travel to every place in Libya without problems, and I am not affiliated with any party, I am a patriotic and independent man, in my opinion and I do not want to bid on anyone.”

He pledged not to enter the corporation into political wrangling, referring to a contact with officials of the U.S. Embassy to Libya, who expressed fear of using oil funds to support one party at another’s expense, continuing that he made it clear to them, that he had consulted with parties of the French government in the same context, as well as the Unity Government held talks with other international parties.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Tripoli-US Ambassador Richard Norland has wondered; Will Libyan leaders on all sides realize that these developments once again demonstrate the urgent need for political will to reach a compromise and set the immediate stage for reconciliation and elections? ‘ We are following with great concern the developments surrounding the National Oil Corporation, which is vital to Libya’s stability and prosperity, and has remained politically independent and technically competent under the leadership of (Mustafa Sanalla), he added.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Tripoli-U.S Ambassador and Special Envoy to Libya Richard Norland said that “the decision to change the board of directors of the National Oil Corporation may be challenged in court, “but the issue must not develop into an armed confrontation.”

Norland said Thursday in a series of tweets posted by the U.S. Embassy on its Twitter account, that he is following “with great concern” developments surrounding the institution, “which are vital to Libya’s stability and prosperity,” adding that it “remained politically independent and working technically efficiently under the leadership of Mustafa Sun’Allah.

The U.S. Ambassador stressed that Libya’s main policy should focus on “restoring oil and gas production, in order to address pressing issues affecting the lives of every Libyan, especially electricity shortages, and establishing a Libyan mechanism to manage and control revenues transparently.”

“Will Libyan leaders on all sides realize that these developments once again demonstrate the urgent need for political will to reach a compromise and create the immediate stage of reconciliation and elections?” asked Ambassador Norland.

Source: Libyan News Agency