The The Petroleum Facilities Guard of Libya have strengthened security in the vicinity of the Mellitah oil and gas complex, the only hub for the export of Libyan gas to Italy through the Greenstream gas pipeline, coinciding with the protests that threaten its closure, reports Italian news agency Nova.
Last week, protesters have threatened to shut down facility, located near the Libyan capital Tripoli, with one group that is campaigning against corruption issuing a 72-hour ultimatum that ended last Friday.
The group called the Corruption Eradication Movement said in a video statement online that it would “stop the pumping of gas from the Mellitah complex”, a joint venture between Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Italy’s Eni.
The protesters demanded the removal of NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara over what they called “violations amounting to the level of crime”.
They also demanded Bengdara be prevented from concluding any oil and gas agreements.
Other demands included job opportunities for young people in areas near the oil facilities and preventing environmental pollution.