Libya's Tripoli government installs new oil company head despite opposition

TRIPOLI :Libya's Tripoli government said it had installed a new National Oil Corporation (NOC) chairman in the state producer's headquarters on Thursday amid a power struggle to control a company whose revenues are the source of all state funding. However, Bengdara held a news conference at NOC headquarters soon afterwards and a Reuters photographer said the situation there seemed calm. Two NOC affiliates - Al Waha Oil Co and Arabian Gulf Oil Co - tweeted support for the new NOC board before Al Waha swiftly deleted its message. It is not clear how the tussle over NOC leadership will affect a blockade now under way by groups aligned with eastern commander Khalifa Haftar that has cut output by 850,000 bpd. The other legislative body, the Tripoli-based High State Council, called on Dbeibah to revoke the decision to install a new NOC head.