The National Oil Cooperation hailed the Presidential Council’s announcement of the unconditioned reopening of Ras Lanuf, Es Sidra and Zueitina oil ports, confirming that the NOC’s Chairman, Mustafa Sanallah received a phone call from the PC member, Mousa Al-Koni, in which he told him so.
“I was happy that the PC agreed that we cannot reward people for blockading Libya’s oil and holding it hostage.” Sanallah said, calling on other groups that are using the shutdown for personal ends to allow the oil to be pumped without preconditions, in an implication to the Zinatni armed groups who are blocking the pumping of 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) from Al-Sharara and Al-Feel oil fields.
In a statement, the NOC also welcomed the Presidential Council’s decision to release the agreed upon budget money for the NOC so that it can boost output rates, saying the released money can increase oil output to 150,000 bpd in a span of two weeks to make it reach 900,000 bpd by the end of 2016.
“I feel positive after we have taken two steps in the right direction – we have managed to reopen the oil terminals without any preconditions, and we have managed to release the budget money for the NOC.” Sanallah indicated, saying all Libyans living around the oil ports and fields should help facilitate the flow of oil freely as it belongs to all Libyans.
On Saturday, the Presidential Council announced a deal struck with what so-called Petroleum Facilities Guard to end three years of closure with some sources saying the deal included payment for Ibrahim Jodran and his forces, which led to the then rejection of the NOC.
Sources also say that since there are no clues that the Presidential Council has not paid Jodran the money he asked for, the decision of the NOC remains enigmatic as some hinted that there were a group of parties who proposed dismissing Sanallah from his post if his rejection persisted.
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