Libya: Oil firm gets backing from US, Turkey as LNA tries to split NOC

According to reports, seven countries which include the United States, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, support and recognize the state-owned Libyan oil firm National Oil Corporation (NOC) as the only legal and authorized authority for the Arab country's energy sector, a joint statement has revealed on September 22. Earlier, NOC condemned an alleged attempt to break apart the eastern division of the oil company by Haftar. 

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Contents of the Statement

According to the U.S Embassy for Libya statement:  For the sake of Libya's political and economic stability and the well-being of all its citizens, it was revealed that the US explicitly supported the NOC. The US embassy statement further said that the joint statement was signed by US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, UAE and Turkey. The statement also said that they support NOC as the country's sole independent, legitimate and nonpartisan oil company and that now is the time to consolidate national economic institutions rather than break them apart.

Reportedly, the move has come after eastern Libyan parallel authority in tandem to Khalifa Haftar anointed a different board previous week for the local unit of National Oil Corporation which is being seen by diplomatic experts as a way to break away from national capital Tripoli headquarters.

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Background

According to global media reports, Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) force has been attempting to take Tripoli, home to the internationally recognized government, in a half-year long military offensive. Previous week, National Oil Corporation vociferously condemned the appointment of a parallel board for the eastern division of Brega Petroleum Marketing Co (BPMC) as an attempt to divide the nation and set up an unauthorized entity to export oil. 

The National Oil Corporation is a state company who manage oil and gas exports even though LNA did try to take control of oil ports under its authority and reigns. Reportedly, Diplomats have said that Haftar's forces have been supported by UAE and Egypt and Turkey supports the Tripoli forces. 

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