Libya warns against illegal oil sales
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The company warned it has the right to take legal action against any entity working to circumvent state channels for the sale of Libya crude oil.
"The NOC has been made aware by trusted sources in the oil market of information that some middlemen and brokers of unknown destination are offering quantities of Libyan crude oil for sale in an illegal manner on the oil market," the company said in a statement Thursday.
The company in early 2014 said the North Korean-flagged tanker Morning Glory had taken on a load of crude oil illegally from Sidra, a port under rebel control in eastern Libya. The government threatened to use force against the vessel and the Libyan company said it would pursue "all of its remedies" to protect its interests.
U.S. forces seized the tanker in March 2014 and escorted the rogue vessel from the Mediterranean Sea back to a Libyan port.
The NOC said in the latest sale allegations that patriotism was vital "especially in this delicate situation" when Libya is breaking apart. Two rival governments are vying for control over the country.
The International Energy Agency said Friday production from the Organization of Exporting Countries was down by about 90,000 barrels per day in part because of losses from Libya. Libya last week declared force majeure on 11 oilfields after a series of Islamic State attacks on facilities in the country's central region.
Libya was producing around 1.2 million bpd before civil war began in 2011. OPEC in its latest report said the member state was producing around 343,000 bpd.
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Libya warns against illegal oil sales