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Protesters have threatened to shut down two oil and gas facilities near the Libyan capital Tripoli, with one group that is campaigning against corruption issuing a 72-hour ultimatum that ends on Friday for the government to respond to its demands.
Reuters reported on Thursday that the group that is called the “Corruption Eradication Movement” said in a video statement online that it would “stop the pumping of gas from the Mellitah Complex”.
Of course, any halt of operations would disrupt the supply of gas through the Greenstream pipeline between Libya and Italy.
The Mellitah Complex that is located 22 km to the east of coastal city, Zuwara is a joint venture between Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Italy’s Eni.
The protesters demanded the removal of NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara over what they called “violations amounting to the level of crime”.
The protesters also demanded the NOC Chairman, Bengdara, be prevented from signing any oil and gas agreements. They threatened: “If the authorities do not respond to our demands, the movement may develop into civil disobedience.” According to the group’s spokesman Salem Mohammed, who spoke to Reuters by phone.
According to the protesters’ statement, they aim to close NOC’s Al-Zawiya oil refinery, west of Tripoli, which can process 120.000 barrels per day (bpd) and is connected to the 3000.000 bpd Sharara field.
On last Sunday, the NOC declared force majeure on Sharara crude production, citing the shutdown of the field by local protesters.
The NOC said in a statement that the force majeure measures went into effect on Sunday (January 07) and will go on until the shutdown is lifted.
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