As Libyan oil flows resume so does a feud over revenues
Oil exports resumed recently after Haftar's eight-month blockade was lifted [Getty]
Date of publication:
9 December,
2020
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Comment: A resolution to Libya's enduring conflict will require resolving how oil revenues are distributed, writes Guma El-Gamaty.
In Libya, the struggle for control over power and wealth continues in a country where wealth is derived almost exclusively from oil revenues. Controlling this vast natural resource is a prime driver of conflict among Libyan groups, with many competing to secure a share of the benefits.
To complicate things further, some foreign players interfering in the Libyan conflict also have active stakes in Libya's oil and gas industry, or are eyeing future investment opportunities for their companies. Italy's Eni and France's Total have joint ventures with the National Oil Corporation (NOC) in Tripoli, but it is well noted that their governments have been sharply at odds over policy towards Libya.