Efforts underway to secure Libya's oil fields: UN envoy

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - The deputy head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said Monday that efforts are underway to unify the protective forces for the country’s oil field facilities.

Stephanie Williams told local journalists that a Libyan oil field which will resume production next year will be guarded by a protection force as a pilot project for safeguarding the country’s oil fields.

She said the UN supports the oil companies that contribute to oil production in Libya by observing the country’s sovereignty.

The chairman of the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC), Mustafa Sanallah, clarified that securing and protecting the oil field facilities will be carried out by two existing forces along with a new protection force that will work under the NOC’s command.

On Nov. 3, the Libyan joint military commission (5+5) agreed in Ghadames in southwest Libya to set mechanisms to implement a permanent cease-fire reached on Oct. 23.

On Nov. 9, intra-Libyan talks were held in Tunisia under UN sponsorship in which the rival parties agreed on a permanent cease-fire. The talks were postponed until next week, however, due to a lack of consensus on who will lead the transition process.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara