The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Friday, that its facilities are still occupied by a large number of mercenaries, demanding their immediate withdrawal under the supervision of the United Nations.

In a statement, the NOC expressed its grave concern over the use of its oil installations as war sites, which it said could ignite war and destroy oil and gas installations.

"NOC condemns the deployment of Wagner Group, Syrian and Janjaweed mercenaries in the oil installations, most recently at Es Sidra port, and NOC demands their immediate withdrawal from all facilities," the statement read, urging the United Nations Mission in Libya to send observers to supervise the demilitarisation in the areas of NOC operations across the country.

It indicated that there are currently large numbers of foreign mercenaries in NOC facilities who work for foreign governments with an interest in stopping oil production in the country, stressing that all illegal activities within its oil facilities will be documented. "NOC will not hesitate to seek prosecution for those who damage Libya’s only significant source of revenue," the corporation underlined.

It also warned that the continued closure of Libyan oil installations constitutes a threat to the country's future wealth and further deteriorates its production capacity.

"All Libyans should work to prevent the use of oil installations as a political bargaining chip by armed groups," the NOC added.