Libyan PFG closes two oilfields in the South

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The Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) has closed two oilfields in the South of Libya, Reuters informs on Tuesday citing a brigade commander. The group claims that the country’s government has delayed the payment necessary to maintain the work.

The Petroleum Facilities Guard has stopped pumping crude oil from the Gulf and Al Wafa oilfields because of a payment delay from the government. Commander Mohammad Ahmad Alkhbasha said it’s impossible to continue security operations without due payments.

At the same time the state-run National Oil Corporation has not confirmed the closures.

A day before the National Oil Corporation’s chairman Mustafa Sanalla said the payment delays costs Libya billions of dollars in lost revenue and called upon the Presidency Council to explain the financial situation. According to the NOC’s estimates, the budget shortfalls have resulted in production losses of a total of 35 million barrels, valued at US$1.56 billion, since March when the Presidency Council took control of spending.