Rival Libyan oil companies have finalized a deal to merge, Libyan officials said, removing a key obstacle to the unification of the conflict-torn nation under the auspices of a single government. An oil company based in eastern Libya had for months tried to market its own crude. The attempts have been blocked by Libya’s National Oil Co., recognized by the United Nations and other international bodies as the only legitimate seller of the country’s petroleum . In a news release late on Saturday, National Oil Co. in Tripoli said both sides had agreed to merge their operations. Mustafa Sanallah, National Oil Co. chairman, will take the helm of the merged entity while the head of eastern rival Naji Elmugrabi will become a board member. Mr. Elmugrabi confirmed the agreement. They also agreed to move […]