Exclusive : Aoun: Dbeibah Spoke of Establishing a State of Institutions and Rule of Law; I Hope This Will Be Translated into Reality and Laws Will Be Respected

Oil and Gas Minister Mohammed Aoun commented exclusively to our source on remarks made by the Head of the Government of National Unity regarding the performance of the General Electricity Company’s board of directors.

Aoun said:

“My comment is specifically regarding the provision of sufficient quantities of gas to operate electricity stations across the country. When I took over the ministry on March 15, 2021, I sent a memorandum to the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation’s Board of Directors (at the time, the chairman was the illegitimate Mustafa Sanalla) regarding accelerating the development of oil and gas discoveries to meet domestic consumption needs and exports. This memorandum was dated February 3, 2022.

Before that, I had sent several memoranda calling on the Corporation’s Board of Directors to hold meetings, set priorities, and respect laws and legislation. However, they delayed and refused these requests with the support of the Prime Minister.”

He added:

“On April 19, 2022, during the fifth regular Cabinet meeting, the council discussed the Ministry of Oil and Gas memorandum dated March 24, 2022, regarding the rapid development of gas discoveries, specifically the Hamada field (M.N. 7A) and the Arous Al-Bahr field opposite Ras Lanuf. The Cabinet unanimously approved this memorandum.

After that, the Cabinet Secretary sent a letter to the Director of the Legal Affairs and Complaints Department at the Cabinet requesting the preparation of the necessary decision (reference letter No. 12439 dated May 22, 2022, attached with a copy). Unfortunately, the Ministry of Oil sent seven reminder letters to the Prime Minister’s Office to activate the decision, but without success. Had the decision been implemented, these two fields would now be in operation and production and could have met domestic consumption needs.”

He also stated:

“During the Libyan House of Representatives session on April 30, 2024, an amount of six billion dinars was allocated for the development of the Hamada field (attached document). Unfortunately, neither the Corporation nor the government took any action on this matter, as the issue entered the category of relinquishment. The plan was to hand over the field to a consortium of foreign companies, but the efforts I made, along with a group of patriotic and dedicated individuals, led to stopping this relinquishment after intervention by the Office of the Attorney General’s Adviser.”

He continued:

“There was also a letter from the Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee at the Libyan House of Representatives to the Chairman of the Corporation’s Board of Directors questioning the reasons for the delay in launching the project (letter dated January 15, 2025, attached).

What has been circulated regarding Farhat Bengdara warning the Attorney General, through his letter dated April 30, 2024 (registered under No. 2024/02/K), about the expected gas shortage in 2026 was primarily intended to justify relinquishing the Hamada field and granting it to a consortium of foreign companies. Otherwise, what is the justification for the Corporation not implementing the project using Libyan capabilities, especially since the House of Representatives had allocated a budget for it as mentioned above?”

According to Aoun:

“In the Prime Minister’s remarks during yesterday’s Cabinet session in Zliten regarding the initiatives being discussed, he mentioned efforts to establish a state based on institutions and the rule of law. I hope this will be translated into reality and that laws, legislation, and judicial rulings will be respected.

In this context, it is noticeable that the general assemblies of public companies are failing to hold their annual meetings on schedule, despite these meetings being an important part of monitoring operations and reviewing expenditures and budgets.

For example, I am a member of the General Assembly of the General Electricity Company by virtue of my position. I believe this assembly has met only once during the three years in which I have been carrying out my duties.”