National Oil Corp. in western Libya warned traders against loading “illicit” cargoes of oil at Hariga port in the eastern part of the country, while the company’s counterpart in the east acknowledged it’s signed 10 contracts to export crude from the terminal. Six or seven foreign companies signed oil-purchase contracts with people who say they represent the government based in eastern Libya and “have no authority to sell Libyan oil,” the Tripoli-based NOC said in a statement, citing Ahmad Shawki, general manager for international marketing. It identified Loyd Capital and Netoil as among buyers attempting to load crude at Hariga. “The only authority legally empowered to sell Libyan crude oil is the National Oil Corporation, with its seat in Tripoli,” NOC said. Libya, which holds Africa’s largest proven oil reserves, has two administrations, one in the west and an internationally recognized government in the east. The NOC in the […]