The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced reopening the oilfields in Ajkhara district after they had been shut in last November in a post-Wintershall decision.
Germany’s Wintershall stopped producing crude from the oilfields – producing around 40.000 bpd – in last November to respond to residents’ demands, who vowed to shut down Al-Nafoura oilfield of The Arab Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) if the NOC did not act and meet their requests with actions.
The residents called on the NOC and Wintershall to recruit workers from their district as per the First Ecology National Conference recommendations in that regard, let alone assisting in treating chronic diseases in the area.
“281.4 million dollars were lost since the closure of Ajkhara oilfields as 4.4 million barrels were not produced in the closure’s period. But responding to pressure by both NOC and the Public Prosecutor, the municipality of Ajkhara agreed to reopen the oilfields.” NOC said in a statement on Sunday.
It added that Wintershall stopped production in the oilfields without NOC’s consent as per the operation agreement between the two parties.
“Reopening the oilfields is a set back that will test the legitimacy of the parallel NOC in east Libya and its efforts to shut down production in Al-Wahat area and elsewhere.” Mustafa Sanallah – the NOC’s Chairman – said.
He added that the Public Prosecutor will follow up on the “crime” and the criminals who use such a strategy to shut down the oil facilities must be aware that they are doing a serious crime.
