CAIRO (AP) - Losses from a protracted blockade of Libya’s vital oil files and ports have surpassed $4 billion, the country’s national oil corporation said Tuesday, amid an escalation of fighting between rival forces for the capital Tripoli.
Powerful tribes loyal to Libya’s eastern-based forces seized large export terminals and choked off major pipelines in January, aiming to starve the Tripoli-based government of crucial revenues.
The eastern-based forces, led by military commander Khalifa Hifter, launched an offensive last April to capture Tripoli, clashing with an array of militias loosely allied with the U.N.-supported government.
The fighting has escalated in recent weeks as the United Nations appealed for a cease-fire so authorities could turn their focus to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The National Oil Corporation, which dominates Libya’s critical oil industry, said Tuesday the losses from the oil blockade have exceeded $4 billion since Jan. 17.
“All areas of life, the national infrastructure and all Libyans, including men, women and children, are affected by this heavy loss. This will add to their suffering,” said Mustafa Sanalla, head of the NOC.
He called for lifting the closure, saying if the corporation resumes production, Libya “may be able to stop the collapse of its economy.”
Oil, the lifeline of Libya’s economy, has long been a key factor in the civil war, as rival authorities jostle for control of oil fields and state revenue. Libya has the ninth largest known oil reserves in the world and the largest oil reserves in Africa.
The closure of the oil facilities was seen as part of Hifter’s efforts to capture Tripoli and punish adversaries there for sealing security and maritime agreements with Turkey, opening doors for military support from Ankara.
Hifter’s self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces said Tuesday they repelled an attack on the al-Waitya airbase by Tripoli militias and shot down a Turkish-made done over the western city of Misrata. It’s military media also reported airstrikes on Tripoli militias outside Misrata.
Tripoli-allied forces said Monday they captured the city of Sabrata, around 75 kilometers (45.5 miles) west of Tripoli, which served as a base for Hifter’s forces. They also took the town of Sorman, 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of the capital.
The escalation of fighting has fueled concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus. Libya has reported at least 26 cases of the virus and one fatality.
There are fears the global pandemic could devastate the war-torn Libya, where a decade-long conflict has ravaged key infrastructure and created dire medical shortages.
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.
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