Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aquilah Saleh has said recent measures by the Libyan army to take control of oil terminals in Zewaitina, Ras Lanof, Briga and Sedra aimed at protecting the wealth of the Libyan people and putting an end to the blackmails which cost the country more than 100 billion dollars in three years.
In a statement Monday night, he said the measures were taken in coordination with the chieftains and residents of the oil crescent area, pointing out that the Libyan army is keen on protecting the lives of people and their property.
Report had said forces opposed to the Tripoli government appear to be making a clean sweep through the country’s “oil crescent”, seizing control of oil terminal headquarters and gaining a stranglehold over the export of Libya’s economic lifeblood.
The capture of the oil terminals through the weekend and Monday changes the balance of political forces inside Libya and makes the survival of the UN-backed, Tripoli-based government of national accord (GNA) less likely.
Oil production, pipelines and terminals have been at the centre of the civil war since the collapse of the government of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Oil production has collapsed from a potential of more than 1.5 million barrels a day to just 200,000.

Source: MENA