Throughout last week, there were minor protests by members of the Zawiyya refinery Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) over pay conditions. They are demanding that the Government of National Unity (GNU) increase their salaries and implement the unified salary scale in line with salary increases recently introduced to other parts of the armed forces.
On 13 September, the Zawiyya Oil Refinery confirmed that the main entrance into the refinery had been blocked by members of the PFG who are holding a sit-in. However, it said that a secondary gate is still open and confirmed that employees can work as normal. Members of the PFG who were protesting told the media that they have given the GNU 48-hours to consider their demands, otherwise they would escalate their action.
On 15 September, in the morning, a group of PFG closed the main oil pipeline from Al-Hamada to Zawiyya in protest over pay conditions, reportedly giving authorities a week to meet their demands of increased pay. The NOC confirmed the closure and warned it had led to a sudden rise in pressure at the Al-Tahara field on the production lines, causing a complete halt in production and operations at all fields in Al-Hamada (NC8), Al-Tahara (NC4), and the station (NC5).
The NOC condemned these actions, warning they harm the national economy, cause significant damage to the operations of the oil fields, and further deepen the crises that the Libyan oil sector is suffering. It said it also ‘rejects the threats issued by the parties to close the field north of Al-Hamada belonging to the Nafusa company, or any other fields or wells in any area, under the pretext of strikes or demands that aim to pressure the NOC in this illegal manner.’ It called on those behind this movement to use reason, preserve the capabilities of the Libyan people and their wealth, and resort to legal means to achieve any demands.
It further announced that it ‘may have to declare a state of force majeure if this valve continues to be closed, or if any of the other fields are subjected to a similar forced closure, calling on the responsible authorities in the state to bear full responsibility for taking action to resolve this crisis and end its causes.’ It also warned that such blockades ‘will certainly harm Libya’s reputation globally as a reliable provider of energy in the world, as well as threaten the stability of the state’s commitment to paying its employees’ salaries, as oil revenues are the only and main source of the state’s treasury.’