(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
The blacklisted Indian-flagged oil tanker, the Distya Ameye, is returning to Libya after the eastern government’s rival oil corporation failed to illegally export 650,000 barrels of crude oil.
The oil tanker which set sail from the eastern port of Marsa el-Hariga late Monday towards Malta was ultimately unable to export its first illegal shipment of crude oil after the UN Security Council blacklisted the ship on Wednesday, preventing it from entering any ports.
The Distya Ameya has been diverted back to an oil refinery in the Libyan city of Zawiya after it was refused permission to dock in Malta.
The eastern government’s attempt at selling Libya’s oil through its parallel oil company goes against Libyan law which states that the only legitimate seller of Libyan oil is the internationally recognized NOC based in Tripoli.
The UN-backed Government of National Accord and its international supporters have stated that if the House of Representatives (HOR) were to succeed in its objective of selling oil separately, it would undermine the unity government and put the political and economic future of Libya in danger.
The HOR has experienced several failed attempts at exporting oil due to UN sanctions which target companies and people who attempt to profit from illegal oil sales and threaten the peace process, however, it has now found a buyer for its illicit oil in UAE-based trading firm DSA Consultancy.