NOC Chairman: UAE has sent illegal fuel shipment to eastern Libya in violation of UN embargo

NOC added in a statement on Monday that the shipment of fuel into Benghazi port was a breach of the UN arms embargo relating to Libya, a contravention of the internationally agreed exclusivity of NOC relating to fuel imports, an infraction of the vessel quarantine protocol, and contrary to international law.

“The shipment came from the UAE to Benghazi on a ship called Gulf Petroleum 4 and has been in Benghazi port for a number of days.” NOC said, citing a UAE commitment in September 2019 as Abu Dhabi signed an international statement saying: “We fully support Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) as the country’s sole independent, legitimate and nonpartisan oil company. Now is the time to consolidate national economic institutions rather than break them apart. For the sake of Libya’s political and economic stability, and the well-being of all its citizens, we exclusively support the NOC and its crucial role on behalf of all Libyans.”

Libya’s NOC added that the actions of the UAE appear to be in stark contradiction to its words.

NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said, “Despite extreme hardships caused by illegal blockades on Libya’s oil facilities, NOC has been able to supply sufficient fuel to all parts of Libya, including the Eastern regions to meet all civilian needs, including civil aviation. The only reason I can think of for additional fuel to be imported in this illegal and clandestine way is that it is intended for other purposes.”