Financial expert Khaled Al-Zantouti said, in a statement given exclusively to our source, that it is clear there is a major problem with the consistency of figures between official entities. He explained that the National Oil Corporation announced yesterday that it transferred USD 22 billion to the Central Bank’s account as oil sales revenues for 2025, while Central Bank data indicate that the amount transferred under oil sales was approximately USD 18 billion. He added that he does not believe the Central Bank speaks arbitrarily, as this is a defined account at the Libyan Foreign Bank with well-known and precisely specified accounting entries, statements, and figures.
He added that, on the other hand, if we calculate the volume of oil production (as stated in the Corporation’s report and as a daily average for 2025), and deduct the foreign partner’s share as well as the quantities supplied to local refineries, and considering that the average Brent price in 2025 was more than USD 68.5 per barrel, this means that our (net) oil sales should exceed the USD 24 billion threshold—and this excludes gas sales.
He also stated that discrepancies of a quarter or even half a percentage point remain acceptable and can be justified from an accounting perspective, but when differences exceed 25% or more, this is a disaster. Officials, he stressed, must clarify these discrepancies, their causes, and correct them. The reason may simply be differences in terminology, or there may be (hidden) reasons known only to God and those who carried them out.
He concluded by saying: “For God’s sake, inform us—may God reward you. Perhaps each party has its justifications and reasons; the important thing is to clarify the figures and the reasons behind their inconsistency.”
