The National Oil Corporation (NOC) reiterated on Thursday its call to the government to implement emergency security measures at el-Sharara oil field to end its “looting,” according to a Thursday statement by NOC.
“We are very concerned these attacks are not simple robberies but are part of a systematic attempt to destroy the Sharara system. We call on all Libyans to stand against criminal acts that have a lasting and damaging effect on our economy, and urge immediate security reforms,” NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla said in the statement.
Sanalla expressed his concern over the continuous loot of the field by the Petroleum Facilities Guards (PFG), who are supposedly deployed to protect the field.
He added that Libya needs Sharara to resume its operations as soon as possible; hence, serious protection of the oil field is critical.
A third “security breach” incident occurred this week on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s theft comes after NOC registered two other security breaches this week as two incidents occurred early Monday at Sharara, according to the Tripoli-based NOC.
In the early hours of Monday, an armed group attacked a member of the site’s civil guard, physically assaulting and restraining him, before stealing six air conditioning units.
Meanwhile, another group of criminals forced their way into the facility of Akakus Oil Operations at the oil field, breaking the gates at a catering warehouse and stealing vital goods.
To put an end to such criminal acts, a new security plan to secure Libya’s oil fields and institutions was announced by head of the Libyan Presidency Council Faiez Sarraj and Sanalla on Nov. 24.
During their meeting in Tripoli, Sarraj and Sanalla agreed on several new measures, including the restructuring of the Petroleum Facilities Guards and enhancing their training programs.
