The European Union said it is going to oppose any attempt to sell or purchase Libyan oil outside the official channels managed by the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC,) a statement by the EU's foreign affairs department Maja Kocijančič said on Thursday.
The statement of the EU explained that oil infrastructure, production, and export need to remain under the exclusive control of the Tripoli-based NOC, with all oil revenues transferred to the Central Bank of Libya (CBL).
"Recent statements calling for oil exports from the eastern oil terminals to be approved by entities other than the legitimate NOC are therefore unacceptable and contravene UN Security Council Resolutions." The statement reads.
It remarked that any illegal action that may jeopardize the Libyan oil industry must be avoided.
Khalifa Haftar ordered the handover of oil terminals to the parallel NOC in Benghazi which operates under the Interim Government in east Libya. Local reactions were more of rejection than acceptance.
The parallel NOC started operating in the oil crescent region as its Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) disallowed an oil vessel from entering Hariga oil terminal in Tobruk as it wanted to ship crude as per an agreement with Tripoli's NOC.
Parallel NOC's Chairman, Faraj Al-Hassi, said legal actions will be taken to deter any vessels trying to enter Libya's waters without clearance from eastern government.
"No oil exports will be done from the terminals unless we have permitted them. All east-bases firms were notified to stop oil exports until they receive official permits from Benghazi's NOC. These instructions shall be implemented in coordination with the PFG." Al-Hassi said.
