Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar on Friday announced lifting the blockade on oil production and its export. Hours after the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC), in a statement, objected to “the politicization of the oil sector and its use as a bargaining chip for political gains,” Haftar announced in a televised speech the lifting of the blockade on oil production and its export. The blockade entailed, according to the NOC’s latest figures, losses amounting to some $9.8 billion, and exacerbated electricity and fuel shortages in the country. Actually, Libya has an oil production capacity of 1.22 million barrels per day. Earlier this month, they held talks in Switzerland during which they agreed to hold elections within 18 months and restructure the government.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 18, 2020 19:18 UTC