Libya’s NOC Says Oil Industry Can’t Be Political Bargaining Chip
- NOC denounces in statement parallel talks to resume production
- Officials say Russia hosted talks and agreement to restart oil
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Libya’s National Oil Corporation said it won’t allow the shutdown of output engineered by rival military commander Khalifa Haftar to be used as a bargaining chip, denouncing what it said were “secretive” parallel talks that could endanger oil infrastructure.
The company’s statement Thursday didn’t elaborate on those talks or name the parties involved. But two officials who asked not to be identified told Bloomberg that Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq, who is often at odds with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, had met one of Khalifa Haftar’s sons in Sochi, Russia last week and agreed to a plan to resume production. They had intended to sign a deal Friday, said the officials, asking not to be named as the talks are confidential.