He's already eastern Libya's biggest power broker, but now he's gained control over most of the upstream oil industry in the country's southwest. Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter and the force he commands, the Libyan National Army (LNA), assumed control over the Sharara oil field in the country's southwestern Fezzan region on Feb. 12 after negotiations secured the departure of the 30th Battalion, which is aligned with the Government of National Accord's recently appointed Ali Kanna. According to reports, Tuareg elders intervened to prevent fighting, persuading the 30th Battalion to depart. For the moment, the LNA has said it has appointed the 173rd Brigade to handle security at Sharara, whose output normally totals 300,000 barrels per day. The oil field is now ready to pump oil, but it is the Tripoli-based National Oil Corp. that will make the final decision as to when to restart production, according to an LNA spokesman....
