Libya denies rumors that foreign troops are guarding oil fields

Libya’s National Oil Corporation has denied rumors that foreign troops are guarding the country’s oil fields.

In a statement on its website, the company said it “rejects recent media reports alleging the presence of foreign forces guarding certain Libyan oil fields and facilities. NOC proudly reaffirms that Libya’s military and national security forces have successfully protected these critical facilities, which are built on Libyan soil and represent an essential part of the country’s resources and a mainstay of its economy.”

“NOC strongly condemns these false allegations and misleading reports,” the company also wrote, adding: “We urge all media outlets, both national and international, to exercise due diligence, uphold journalistic integrity and verify the accuracy of information before publication to avoid misleading public opinion and inciting unnecessary disturbance.”

The statement came in response to reports that there were foreign mercenaries guarding the country’s vital oil fields. Libya derives almost all of its export revenue from crude oil, and the start of the civil war that followed the US-led overthrow of Muammar Ghadaffi only magnified the industry’s importance.

Recently, the two competing political factions in Libya have been thinking about who will be the next governor of the Libyan central bank, which has led to the closure of the oil fields by the eastern government, which the so-called international community does not recognize.

As a result of the argument, Libya’s oil production declined. The two governments were eventually able to agree on a new central bank governor and production resumed, but the events highlighted the vulnerability of Libya’s oil supply.

Libya’s oil fields also often become prime targets for protests and blockades as communities around them try to pressure the government on things like job creation and healthcare funding.

The NOC remains adamant that the only troops guarding oil facilities are local.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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