Five Western countries, Turkey and UAE back Libyan state oil firm

Five Western countries including the United States, as well as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, support Libyan state oil firm NOC as the sole legitimate authority for the country’s energy sector, a joint statement said.

It was signed by the United States, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, the UAE and Turkey

Read the full statement here

The move came after the eastern Libyan parallel government allied to Khalifa Haftar appointed a parallel board last week for a local unit of NOC, a move seen by diplomats as attempt to break away from the Tripoli headquarters.

Last week, NOC strongly condemned the appointment of a parallel board for an eastern unit of Brega Petroleum Marketing Co (BPMC) as an attempt to divide the country and set up an illegitimate entity to export oil.

NOC handles oil and gas exports for the whole country, although the LNA has tried before to take control of oil ports under its control.

Via Reuters/ U.S. Embassy for Libya