Legal expert in the oil sector Othman Al-Hdhiri wrote an article titled: “What Is Chevron’s Relationship with the Arabian Gulf Oil Company?”
I have been following news about meetings involving technical officials from the National Oil Corporation and the Arabian Gulf Oil Company on one side, and Chevron on the other. The question that must now be asked is: What is Chevron’s relationship with the Arabian Gulf Oil Company? The latter is an operator affiliated with and owned by the National Oil Corporation, and legally and contractually, it has no relationship with the American company Chevron, whether in exploration or production.
We all know that any intervention by Chevron in the fields operated by the Arabian Gulf Oil Company would constitute an infringement on the Libyan people’s ownership of their oil wealth, in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Law and the law establishing the National Oil Corporation. If the American company Chevron wishes to conduct business in Libya, it must follow the procedures established for this purpose by participating in a public bidding round, or by negotiating to obtain a stake in an exploration area, as any other partner would, under what is known as exploration risk.
As for considering the sale of producing fields, that would be another crime if it actually takes place, as it would then constitute a violation of the law. This is not a practice known to the National Oil Corporation, nor can it be legally approved. Otherwise, such an action could one day become subject to international arbitration. It would also violate Parliament Resolution No. (15) of 2023, which prohibits investment in natural resources until free and fair elections are held, resulting in a truly national government, not merely one in name.
This is a warning from a specialist aimed at protecting our natural resources and safeguarding the future of coming generations.
