Libya: Protests in Tripoli against Haftar forces’ suspension of oil production

Hundreds of Libyans protested in the capital, Tripoli, yesterday against stopping oil production and exportation by militias loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar, Anadolu news agency reported.

The protesters gathered in front of the Libyan Oil Corporation headquarters in Tripoli calling to reject division and allow the resumption of oil production and exportation which is a major source of income for Libyans.

The head of the Libyan Airlines Association, Saeed Abdullah, told the news agency that the participants categorically reject cutting Tripoli’s oil resources, calling on the “Libyan brothers in eastern Libya” to immediately resume production; in reference to Haftar’s militia.

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Earlier on Tuesday, the Libyan Oil Corporation announced that the country’s losses due to Haftar’s blockade has amounted to $1.32 billion.

According to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Libya’s oil production reached 1.2 million barrels per day in December last year.

Last month, forces loyal to Haftar seized several large oil export harbours along the eastern coast as well as southern oil fields in a bid to cut off the major financial resource of the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) which collects oil revenues.