What does the lifting of force majeure mean for oil in Libya?

Yesterday, Saturday, the Libyan Oil Corporation announced the lifting of the status of "force majeure" on "safe" oil installations, after months of stopping production and pumping of oil.

She said that the status of force majeure no longer exists with regard to "safe oil fields and ports," referring to the ports and fields that are not controlled by the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar.

But this announcement came after Haftar's decision to reopen the facilities that his forces had been besieging for months.

"Force Majeure" means a suspension of working temporarily to meet the obligations and legal liability resulting from failure to fulfill oil contracts due to events beyond the control of the contracting parties.

On Friday, Haftar announced the re-production and export of oil according to "conditions" that guarantee a fair distribution of his revenues, after the most important oil installations under the control of his forces remained closed for eight full months.

And Saturday, the National Oil Corporation indicated, in a statement published on its website, to "lift the status of force majeure from safe fields and ports."

"Instructions were given to the companies operating in all the sedimentary basins, as well as the relevant departments of the corporation, to carry out their duties and resume production and exports from the safe fields and ports," she added.

She explained that "force majeure" remains imposed "on oil fields and ports, in which it has been confirmed that there are elements of Wagner gangs and armed groups that impede the activities and operations of the institution."

However, the NOC did not mention the names of the fields that will be covered by the resumption of production or those that will remain closed.

On several occasions, this national institution accused Haftar's forces of using the Russian Wagner security company to control the most important oil installations and use them for "military purposes."

The politicization of oil

"Our main concern is to start production and exports taking into account the safety of workers and operations, and also to prevent any attempts to politicize the oil sector," said Mustafa

, president of the Oil Corporation.

"A technical evaluation is underway in preparation for commencing production and exports," he said.

Sanalla said that lifting the restrictions of "force majeure" that stopped oil exports depends on the disarmament of all oil installations.

Earlier, the National Oil Corporation expressed its regret for the politicization of the oil sector and its use by a party - which it described as not competent - and using it as a bargaining chip to achieve political gains.

The President of the Foundation condemned what he said were attempts to conduct discussions that were described as confidential and contrary to the stated principles.

Sanalla affirmed that he would not allow Wagner mercenaries to play a role in the oil sector.

Path of chaos

Libya has been witnessing chaos and violence since the fall of the regime of the late President Muammar Gaddafi in a revolution that broke out in 2011.

The crisis worsened last year, after Haftar launched an attack to seize control of Tripoli, the seat of the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord.

Later, the Al-Wefaq government forces took control of western Libya after battles that lasted for more than a year and ended in early June with the withdrawal of Haftar's forces.

The battles stopped in the vicinity of the strategic city of Sirte, which is the gateway to the oil fields and export ports in eastern Libya.

On 22 August, the two parties to the conflict announced - in two separate statements - an immediate and complete ceasefire, and the organization of next year's elections across the country, and the United Nations welcomed that "important consensus" between the two parties.