The Libyan National Unity Government announced Thursday that Farhat bin Qadara, the new head of the National Oil Corporation, will officially take over his duties from the corporation's headquarters in Tripoli, at a time when the former president rejected the decision to relieve him of his position.
And a statement - published by our government (governmental) platform on its Facebook page - confirmed that "the head of the receiving and delivery committee between the two boards of directors of the National Oil Corporation, Mustafa Al-Samw, confirms the completion of the process of receiving and handing over."
The unity government headed by Abdel Hamid Dabaiba announced the restructuring of the administration of the Oil Corporation, and the appointment of Ben Gudara as president instead of Mustafa Sanallah, but the latter rejected the decision to relieve him of his position issued by the unity government, considering it "expired."
In turn, the new head of the National Oil Corporation said in a press conference, "Practically today, the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors has been received, and I consider myself exercising my duties in accordance with the law."
Bin Qadara added, "Whoever doubts the decision to assign me as head of the NOC, he must resort to the judiciary, and if the judiciary rules that this decision is illegal, I will leave the institution."
The vicinity of the National Oil Corporation building in central Tripoli witnessed the spread of armed vehicles belonging to the Government of National Unity at dawn on Thursday.
Sanalla has led the Oil Corporation directly since 2015, in light of the abolition of the Ministry of Oil until its return with the Dabaiba government in March 2021. As for Bin Qadara, he served as head of the Central Bank between 2006-2011 under the late President Muammar Gaddafi.
Libya is a producer of crude oil and a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries "OPEC", with an average daily production of 1.4 million barrels, under normal conditions.
The new head of the Libyan National Oil Corporation, Farhat bin Qadara, speaking at a press conference in Tripoli (Reuters)
Disagreement over powers
The dismissal of Sanalla, who insisted on the independence of the NOC, came in light of a dispute - over powers - between him and Oil Minister Mohamed Aoun, who considers the NOC operating under the supervision, supervision and direction of the ministry.
And on Wednesday, the President of the Supreme Council of State, Khaled Al-Mashri, demanded the head of the National Unity Government (Dabaiba) to withdraw the decision to restructure the board of directors of the Oil Corporation.
Al-Mashri pointed out that "the decision to restructure the board of directors of the Oil Corporation at this critical time that the country is going through may lead to the dismantling and division of the Corporation, which will lead to a real catastrophe for the national economy."
international parking
For his part, the US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, expressed his "grave" concern about the replacement of the Dabaiba government, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oil Corporation.
"We are following with great concern developments surrounding the National Oil Corporation, which is vital to Libya's stability and prosperity, and which has remained politically independent and technically competent under Sanalla's leadership," Norland said in a statement released by the US embassy in Tripoli.
For his part, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that the organization supports the unity and independence of the National Oil Corporation in Libya.
Farhan Haq called on all parties to refrain from politicizing the oil establishment.