The Minister of Interior of the Government of National Unity Emad Al-Trabelsi confirmed on Sunday that smuggling was the main cause of the current fuel crisis, calling for exerting more efforts to address all bottlenecks affecting the lives of Libyans.
Al-Trabelsi said that the western region “suffers from fuel smuggling operations that affect supplies, noting that directives have been issued to prevent the sale of fuel barrels on public roads.”
The Minister’s statements came while chairing an expanded security meeting to follow up on the fuel and gas crisis in the western region.
This comes after queues of cars waiting in front of fuel stations became a common sight in the capital, Tripoli and surrounding areas.
The meeting was attended by security directors in the western region, a number of department directors in the ministry, and members of the Fuel and Gas Crisis Solution Committee. The meeting discussed the progress of the fuel distribution process to the stations.
Al-Trabelsi said that the committee was working seriously to provide services to citizens according to plans aimed at addressing the problems and difficulties they face in obtaining fuel.
He explained that the committee had developed accurate mechanisms to follow up on fuel trucks until they reach the stations, in coordination with the security directorates. He said his Ministry would provide the necessary support to the security directorates, which in turn were tasked with securing fuel stations and directly supervising the distribution process.
Al-Trabelsi stressed that interference in the work of the police from any party would be completely unacceptable, saying that the police contribute effectively to ensuring that fuel reaches people.
