Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, said on Wednesday “the status of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) is being settled, or it is reconstituted, legally and administratively.”
“We are studying moving the Corporation’s headquarters from Tripoli to Benghazi. There is no objection in this regard,” Dbeibeh said in a questioning session for his government that the House of Representatives held in Tobruk today.
It is noteworthy that UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed on Tuesday the mediation exercised by Prime Minister, Dbeibeh, “to ensure the unity and integrity of the National Oil Corporation (NOC).”
Libya’s Oil Minister, Mohamed Oun, had suspended NOC Chairman, Mustafa Sanalla, over a dispute regarding the latter’s overreaching influence.
Sanalla, on his part, confirmed in press statement that the Oil Minister cannot legally suspend him from work or refer him for investigation, adding that GNU Cabinet is the decision maker and has the final say of the no-objection certificate.
Oil Ministry, on the other hand, later said Sanalla’s suspension was still in effect “awaiting enforcement by authorities”.
The Ministry also stated that its recommendation to replace Sanalla was still valid and would be presented to the government’s cabinet and the prime minister for approval.