Ahmad 
Military and security sources reported that the outgoing National Unity Government in Libya launched military operations to secure the “NC7” oil field, known as the Hamada field, in light of the increasing tensions in the region.
The military operations come within the framework of the government’s strategy to begin work on the project in the coming days, and no official comments have yet been issued by the government or the Ministry of Defense about the details of the operations.
On the other hand, the Zintan Revolutionary Council issued a statement expressing its rejection of the entry of any military forces or investment companies into the region that extends from Qurayyat in the east to Ghadames in the west, stressing that the oil fields in the region belong to the Libyan people.
In another development, the technical expert team that was formed by a decision of the interim government concluded that the development of the Hamada field should be entrusted to a local company, or a body created specifically for this purpose, instead of relying on foreign companies. This decision aims to guarantee the rights of the Libyan state and maximize the use of natural resources.
The Economic Development Council indicated that the Hamada field contains proven reserves estimated at two trillion cubic feet of gas, which is part of the large Libyan reserves amounting to 55 trillion cubic feet.
Despite this wealth, local and foreign investments are still below the level required to adequately exploit these wealth.
It is noteworthy that the Hamada field is one of the old oil fields that was explored more than 45 years ago, and it is under the management of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company, a branch of the National Oil Corporation.
The 2024 budget allocated 10 billion dinars to develop this field as part of the investment development projects scheduled to be implemented during the year.
The Zintan Revolutionary Council sees the Libyan army’s control over the Hamada field as a violation of the sovereignty of the city of Zintan over its lands and threatens to impose central control over the natural resources in the region, which deprives the people of Zintan from benefiting from these resources. The council wants to ensure fair participation of the people of Zintan in the management and revenues of the Hamada field. .
Libya’s revenues reach more than 31 billion dinars in the first quarter of 2024