A new chief took office at Libya’s National Oil Corporation on Thursday in place of veteran technocrat Mustafa Sanalla, prompting the United States to warn against any “armed confrontation” over the vital sector. Dbeibah appointed former central banker Farhat Bengdara to replace Sanalla as NOC head, in a decree made public on Wednesday. “The oil sector has fallen prey to political struggles, but we will work to prevent political interference in the sector,” he added. – ‘Vital’ to stability –The dispute comes three months into a blockade of key eastern oil facilities which has slashed Libya’s output, even as global oil markets are rattled by the war in Ukraine. The US embassy said it was following the developments “with deep concern”, saying the NOC was “vital” to Libya’s “stability and prosperity”.

Source: Libya Today July 14, 2022 18:03 UTC