(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
Brigades protecting Libya’s two major oil terminals in Ras Lanuf and Es-Sider have joined forces with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNC)’s National Oil Corporation (NOC). A spokesperson made the announcement on thursday that the GNC and NOC will be working together to reopen the fields and pump-out crude oil.
It is not clear whether or not the ports exporting the oil will be reopening along with the field said a spokesperson for the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG). Opening the ports should be able to bring back 600,000 barrels in export capacity of oil per day.
PFG made its statement after the NOC announced its merger with their competitor in eastern Libya.
The ongoing battles, clashes as well as competing governments are some of the major reasons why the amount of oil Libya produces has significantly decreased. The chaos in Libya followed the downfall of Libya’s former dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
PGF executive Ibrahim Jathran that he hopes they will be pumping oil soon. Jathran also confirmed that his team will be working with the NOC in preparation for the opening of the oil fields.
As a result of the turmoil that struck Libya post the 2011 Libyan uprising the process of fixing any damages to the pipelines will possibly take years before complete recovery is achieved.
The GNC with the support of the UN is working on uniting all rival factions in Libya.
The NOC is aiming to get militia groups of rival factions of the GNC to work together instead of fight against each other for power and control over the oil fields since 2014.
Earlier this week the NOC had announced its merger with the oil company in eastern Libya. Analysts say that this will be a step that can lead to more order, at least from a legal and commercial perspective.