Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of the Libyan state National Oil Corporation (NOC), talks to journalists at an OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria, July 1, 2019. REUTERS/Leonhard FoegerTRIPOLI, July 12 (Reuters) - Libya's Government of National Unity (GNU) moved to replace the National Oil Corp (NOC) chairman and board on Tuesday as control over the state energy producer was drawn further into a complex political standoff between rival factions. According to the text of the decision confirmed to Reuters by a GNU official, Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah will replace veteran NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla with Farhat Bengdara, the central bank governor before Libya's 2011 revolution. Libya's Oil Minister Mohamed Oun, who has feuded with Sanalla, said the NOC board changes were "an important step to preserve oil wealth". Libya's oil blockade has reduced output by 850,000 barrels per day (BPD) at a time of global supply constriction and reduced fuel supplies to power stations, adding to electricity cuts that have sparked protests across the country.

Source: Libya Today July 12, 2022 20:13 UTC