2024-07-07 18:39:00
The Africa Intelligence website reported that the American lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs warned Washington of “ongoing political pressures that undermine the work of the National Oil Corporation.”
According to the website, Mercury noted that a Russian company is planning to establish a refinery in eastern Libya, which it considered an additional pressure on the institution.
Mercury sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last June demanding that the independence of the institution and its president be protected, stressing the importance of his position on Libya’s stability given his work with the Government of National Unity in the west and the authorities in eastern Libya controlled by Khalifa Haftar.
According to Africa Intelligence, Mercury, which signed a consulting contract with the National Oil Corporation in February 2023, is seeking to reassure Washington that the head of the National Oil Corporation is on its side.
These concerns come after the Hamad government announced talks with Russian oil company Tatneft to build a refinery in northeastern Libya.
On the other hand, the National Oil Corporation confirmed that it is not involved in this initiative, and does not plan to build a second refinery other than the one launched by its subsidiary, Zallaf Oil and Gas, in southern Libya, in partnership with the American company, Honeywell.
Africa Intelligence confirms that the Russian military presence in eastern Libya, especially the paramilitary “Africa Corps” forces, played a major role in attracting Russian companies to work in Libya.
According to a recent estimate by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, 1,800 Russian fighters are believed to be in Libya, bolstering Moscow’s influence in the country.
Source: Africa Intelligence
2024-07-07 18:39:00