The Government of National Unity (GNU) has condemned the closure of Sharara oil field, rendering it an endeavor of political extortion.
The GNU added in a statement on Sunday that oil resources “are for all Libyans and cannot be used as a pressing card for political gain”, vowing to protect the interests of the Libyans people.
“Sharara oil field comprises 40% of Libya’s crude production and its closure aggravates the suffering of the Libyan people.” The statement reads.
Local protesters have partially shut down Libya’s Sharara oil field, two field engineers told Reuters late on Saturday.
Bloomberg said Production at Sharara field dropped by 30,000 barrels a day to 230,000 as of Saturday night after operators received orders to start partially shutting down production, according to three people with direct knowledge of the operations, who asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
Meanwhile, exclusive sources told Libya Al-Ahrar TV that Saddam Haftar gave orders to close Sharara oil field – operated by Spain’s Repsol – after he was told by Italy (when returning to Benghazi from Rome) that he had been implicated in an arrest warrant issued by Spain.
The sources added that the warrant was for Saddam Haftar’s role in smuggling a shipment of weapons that Spain intercepted months ago.
They have also told Al-Ahrar that local and Western figures are pressing Spain to remove the arrest warrant of Saddam Haftar so that he can order a resumption of oil operations at Sharara oil field.
