Western countries want Libya’s NOC independent from political strife

Five Western nations urged Libyans on Friday not to drag the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) into political disputes that could threaten the country’s fragile peace.

“The embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States urge all actors to respect the unity, integrity, and independence and preserve the apolitical, technical nature of the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation (NOC), whose continued, uninterrupted operations benefit all Libyans,” the five countries said in a join statement.

They also warned against “acts that undermine” the firm or “may pose a threat to the peace, security and stability”.

The statement did not directly accuse anyone of trying to politicise the firm, but it came after months of tensions between NOC head Mustafa Sanalla and Mohammed Aoun, oil minister in the country’s interim government.

Aoun’s ministry on Friday “strongly condemned” the Western statement which it called a “blatant interference in internal Libyan matters” and an attempt to dictate the fate of its oil and gas.