UNSC renews measures against illicit crude oil export from Libya

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution renewing measures related to the illicit export of crude oil from Libya until Feb. 15, 2020.

Resolution 2441, in order to prevent illicit exports of petroleum, decided to extend the authorizations provided by and the measures imposed by resolution 2146 (2014), which allows member states to inspect vessels on the high seas, using all measures commensurate to specific circumstances.

The resolution decided further that the authorizations and measures shall apply with respect to vessels loading, transporting, or discharging petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, illicitly exported or attempted to be exported from Libya.

Resolution 2441 also extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee.

The final report of the Panel of Experts said that six attempts to illicitly export crude oil were documented between August 2017 and August 2018, and these attempts came from the self-styled "National Oil Corporation" in Benghazi, which is a rival to the internationally recognized "National Oil Corporation" based in Tripoli.