Fuel smuggling costs Libya $750m every year

About 30% to 40% of fuel produced and imported by Libya is stolen or smuggled, head of NOC says

Mustafa Sanalla, Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya, speaks to journalists during a press conference at the Libya Forum in London on October 19, 2015. Sanalla gave details of Libyan oil production and outlined plans to further develop output and potential during the Libyan Forum on oil and gas in London. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS

Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of the National Oil Corporation of Libya says about 30 to 40 per cent of fuel produced and imported by Libya is stolen or smuggled. Justin Tallis / AFP Photo

Bloomberg

Apr 19, 2018

Fuel smuggling is costing Libya about $750 million a year, the head of the country’s National Oil Corporation said.

About 30 to 40 per cent of fuel produced and imported by Libya is stolen or smuggled, Mustafa Sanalla said, according to the text of a speech delivered in Geneva. He urged international institutions such as Interpol to aid domestic agencies in breaking up smuggling rings in the country.

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Libya, holder of Africa’s largest crude reserves and an Opec member, is already reeling from political divisions that have slashed oil production. Smugglers have “permeated” some fuel distribution companies as well as the militias currently vying for control of the country, according to Sanalla.

The issue is “destroying the fabric of the country,” he said. “The huge sums of money available from smuggling have corrupted large parts of Libyan society.”