Libya Denies Rumors That Foreign Troops Are Guarding Oil Fields

Libya’s National Oil Corporation has denied rumors that foreign troops are guarding the country’s oil fields.

In a statement on its website, the company said that it “refutes recent media reports claiming the presence of foreign forces guarding certain Libyan oil fields and installations. The NOC proudly reaffirms that Libya’s national security and military forces have successfully safeguarded these critical facilities, which are built on Libyan land and represent an essential part of the country’s resources and a primary pillar of its economy.”

“The NOC strongly condemns these false allegations and misleading reports,” the company also wrote, adding “We urge all media outlets, both domestic and international, to exercise its due diligence, uphold journalistic integrity, and verify the accuracy of information before publication to avoid misleading public opinion and inciting unnecessary unrest.”

The statement came in response to reports saying there were foreign mercenaries guarding the country’s vital oil fields. Libya gets almost all of its export revenues from crude oil and the start of the civil war that followed the U.S.-led overthrow of Muammar Ghadaffi only amplified the importance of the industry.

Just recently, the two competing political factions in Libya locked horns over who would be the next governor of the Libyan central bank, which led to the shutdown of oil fields by the eastern government, which the so-called international community does not recognize.

As a result of the argument, Libya’s oil production plummeted. The two governments eventually managed to reach an agreement on the new central bank governor and production resumed but the events highlighted the vulnerability of Libyan oil supply.

Libya’s oil fields also often become the prime target for protests and blockades as communities around them try to pressure the government into things like job creation and healthcare funding.

The NOC remains firm that the only troops guarding the oil facilities are local.