Libya's state oil firm declares force majeure in oil ports
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E-mail Xinhua, January 19, 2020
TRIPOLI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Libya's state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Saturday declared a state of force majeure in oil ports, accusing the east-based army of closing the ports.
The Libyan National Army has "instructed ... subsidiaries of the NOC to stop oil exports from Brega, Ras Lanuf, Hariga, Zueitina, and Sidra ports," the NOC said in a statement.
The closure of the ports causes loss of daily crude oil production of 800,000 barrels, or a daily equivalent of 55 million U.S. dollars, according to the statement.
A day earlier, Ahmad al-Mismari, spokesman of the east-based army, said closure of the oil ports is a "huge step made by the people."
"Since the decision of the Turkish Parliament to send troops to Libya ... we have seen massive protests against the decision which seeks to occupy Libya again," the spokesman said in a press conference in the eastern city of Benghazi.
The closure of the oil ports is "a popular civilian action ... and the army had listened to the call of the Libyan people," al-Mismari added.
Meanwhile, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday expressed concern over the closure of oil ports.
"UNSMIL expresses deep concern over current efforts to disrupt or impair oil production in Libya. This move would have devastating consequences first and foremost for the Libyan people who depend on the free flow of oil for their well-being," UNSMIL said in a statement.
The east-based army of Libya has been leading a military campaign since early April of 2019 in and around the capital Tripoli, trying to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government.
The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people, and forced more than 120,000 civilians to flee their homes.
Berlin will host an international conference on Libya on Sunday, with participation of both parties to the conflict as well as a number of representatives from the countries in and beyond the region.
The conference aims to end the ongoing armed conflict between the two rivals and resume political dialogue in Libya. Enditem
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