The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has confirmed that the backup brigade of the western Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) got out of Al-Zawiya oil refinery on last Thursday.

In a statement, the NOC said it is adopting sharp security measures that can be the stumbling stone for any armed forces thinking of moving into the oil refinery again.

According to the NOC statement, this had all happened after Al-Zawiya storage administration at Brega Oil Company and Al-Zawiya refinery received a letter from the commander of the PFG backup brigade, Mohammed Kashlaf, telling them that the PFG will withdraw from the refinery.

“No strikes will be allowed inside the oil facilities, whatever the demands of the protesters would be, and the NOC will hit with an iron fist all those who try to violate the security of the oil refinery.” The NOC statement adds.

The spokesman of the PFG backup brigade, Abdullah Naser, said they withdrew froom Al-Zawiya oil refinery in protest of the accusations of the NOC Chairman, Mustafa Sanallah, who said they were smuggling fuel outside Libya.

“We urge the NOC Chairman to form a committee to investigate the unilateral accusations thrown at the brigade.” The spokesman added.

Sanallah renewed his call on the residents of the western region in general and Al-Zawiya and Zuwara cities in particular to stand tough in the face of the fuel smugglers so that they could have their say in fighting this ever-growing phenomenon as they are the first to be harmed by them, given the shortage of fuel in their cities’ gas stations and the selling of it with soaring prices.

“Those smuggling gangs are part of criminal international organizations that work in smuggling fuel, humans and drugs. They are cross-border gangs and they pose a threat to the national security of Libya and to the world peace in the Mediterranean. All must wake up and put aside their greed for money and financial gains as the danger that is moving steadily toward Libya is very tremendous.” The NOC Chairman concluded.