The U.S. called on armed groups for “immediate and unconditional” withdrawal from el-Sharara oilfield so it resumes oil production, deputy spokesperson for the Department of State, Robert Palladino said Tuesday.
In a statement, Palladino added that the U.S. monitors the situation at Sharara oilfield and calls upon the parties concerned to reach a solution “through constructive dialogue and peaceful means” rather than threats of violence.
The statement said all Libyans should benefit from Libyan oil facilities, production and revenues, and the National Oil Corporation (NOC) must achieve that without threat.
“Libya’s oil resources must remain under the exclusive control of the legitimate National Oil Corporation and the sole oversight of the Government of National Accord, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolutions,” the statement continued.
The U.S. expressed solidarity will all Libyan leaders, and urged them to continue their efforts to improve economic conditions, enhance security, and ensure just distribution of the country’s resources.
Armed elements self-proclaimed as the Fezzan Anger Movement recently occupied Sharara oilfield, which is the country’s largest, and forced production to shut down until their demands are fulfilled.
The movement demands the securing of the road linking al-Jafra and al-Shuwairf towns to Fezzan, preserving Fezzan’s water and oil resources, and providing basic medical needs including equipment for Fezzan’s hospitals.
Libya’s NOC declared force majeure on operations at the oil field, in a late statement last week.
Chairman Mustafa Sannallah said in the statement published on the NOC’s facebook page that the company cannot resume work under the same unstable security situation that was existing before the oil field closure.
He stressed that oil production from Libya’s biggest oilfield will only resume after “alternative security arrangements”, according to the NOC statement.
NOC demanded these groups to “immediately leave the field without preconditions.” It said it was also “reviewing” evacuation plans to protect the oilfield’s workers from any threats after some armed groups and tribesmen claiming to be attached to the Libyan Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) seized the place.
NOC said in a statement the shutdown of its biggest oilfield would result in a production loss of 315,000 barrels per day (bpd) at the site, and an additional loss of 73,000 bpd at the Feel oilfield.
