Brega Petroleum Marketing Company, part of Libya’s National Oil Corporation which dominates the country’s oil industry, has said it is obliged to stop supplying aviation fuel to Libyan Airlines (LN, Tripoli Mitiga) and Afriqiyah Airways (8U, Tripoli Mitiga) as a result of the two carriers’ failure to pay their debts for fuel already used.
Brega said in a statement circulated to local media that, to preserve public funds, it is legally prohibited from selling on credit to any commercial company, including the two airlines, which it claimed owe the Libyan state millions of dinars in used jet fuel. Continuing to do so would be in violation of the applicable laws and regulations.
It added that it had formed what it called a High Committee for Debts to chase any mounting arrears from Libyan companies, but that Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways had failed to comply with agreements concluded with the committee to pay their dues in instalments, which was a legal violation.
The petroleum marketing company claimed it had addressed the two companies about the matter several times, as well as the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, arguing that the airlines should be able to pay - especially as they obtain their own customers’ money for tickets in advance.
Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways were not immediately available for comment.
