The British embassy in Libya said Saturday that “the militarization of the Libyan energy sector is unacceptable and threatens to cause further harm,” noting that there are “disturbing reports about the interference of foreign mercenaries” at Sharara oil field.
The UK embassy expressed in a statement concerns about the continued closure of oil ports, and reports of foreign interference in Libyan oil fields.
The embassy indicated that stopping oil production in Libya caused losses exceeding $6 billion since last January, and negative economic consequences for the Libyan people, in addition to the damage to the infrastructure of oil installations.
She noted that the energy sector is considered “an essential source of importance for recovery and post-conflict reconstruction, as the main source of income in Libya,” stressing the need not to “employ the energy sector as a political bargaining chip.”
The statement stated that “Britain reaffirms its support to the National Oil Corporation, as it is the only independent oil company in Libya charged with managing Libyan oil,” stressing the importance of allowing it to resume production without hindrance.
At a time when the embassy called on all parties to participate actively in the political dialogue led by the United Nations, she stressed that “foreign intervention is working to undermine these efforts.”
