friend went from pariah to the West and accumulated public displays of friendship of the most diverse leaders from Silvio Berlusconi to Tony Blair, to José María Aznar, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos. But even during the honeymoon, Muammar Gaddafi laid the hackles of U.S. diplomats in Tripoli, as revealed dozens of secrets from the embassy cables leaked by Wikileaks, which show a real obsession with oil wells and the difficulties that under his regime were Western companies to operate in the country.
"In Libya, the business is politics and Gaddafi controls both", held a confidential report of February 2009. The wires of U.S. diplomats repeatedly bemoan the interference of the Gaddafi family, which controlled the most lucrative economic sectors. But the star case documents filtered, generated rivers of ink that are well above the human rights concerns, is the hardening of the conditions of a dozen Western oil companies operating in the country, causing a major upset at the embassy.
Libya is the first African country's oil reserves with an estimated 46,000 million barrels, twice the U.S.. In 2010, reached 1.8 million per day, from 80% of the area of \u200b\u200bSirte and the sale of which accounted for 95% of revenue. The main customers are Italy (28%), France (15%), China (11%), Germany (10%) and Spain (10%). Crude
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The Libyan oil is not only abundant, but high quality and easy to extract, making it particularly profitable: in some areas, the cost of extraction is only a dollar a barrel. When between 2003 and 2004, the UN and U.S. sanctions lifted, following the resignation of the regime to produce weapons of mass destruction, major Western oil companies flocked to the country again.
international companies that dominate the Libyan market are Eni, Repsol YPF and U.S. consortium Oasis, which incorporates CoconoPhillips Libya, Marathon Oil and Hess Ameranda. But it is also solidly PetroCanada, Gaz-prom and TNK (Russia), Total (France), Saga Petroleum (Norway), Wintershall and RWE (Germany), OMV (Austria), BP (UK), Occidental, Halliburton, Exxon (U.S.) Chevron left in 2010 because their scans did not give results, Woodside (Australia) and Japan Exploration Company, among others. Outrage
The U.S. Embassy followed very closely the conditions of the sector and reflected his growing anger in the cables sent to Washington. Since 2006, the Libyan regime began a round of talks with multinationals to expand and toughen licensing conditions to extend the quota required benefits that the state and payment of a bonus additional millionaire, among other innovations, even though the contracts were signed just three years ago and that much remained to expire, causing great distress to the Embassy. And when most accepted and signed oil, U.S. officials did not hide their outrage.
The alarm goes off for the U.S. in late 2007, when Eni accepted the new terms and signed: "Although Eni sells it as a success, the agreement carries negative and may pave the way for the imposition of similar requirements other oil and gas concession foreigners " laments a cable of 26 October. He adds: "The result is that Libya is left with a larger share of oil produced and Eni's accounts contain less reserves."
In subsequent cables, U.S. diplomats deepen his concern: "Executives of Western companies have expressed serious reservations. One executive said the deal scares and there is widespread concern now seek similar agreements with the rest. " And more: "The growing greed of the NOC [Libya's state oil company] may decrease the interest of leading operators in Libya."
The oil companies are signing the new conditions, but this does not appease the uneasiness of the U.S. Embassy in November 2007 to draft another report: "Libya is a uniquely difficult for international oil companies, who face numerous Byzantine problems and their profit margins are comparatively lower. The situation will worsen in the coming years because the government wants further concessions to maximize the benefits. "
When in June 2008 PetroCanada signing a new contract by the U.S. embassy is a nod to "the Libyan efforts to impose the harshest terms foreign oil, "U.S. diplomats show and resignation:" Given the high oil prices and limited opportunities for new exploration and production, oil companies and sign swallow. "
The only joy He gives Chevron, which in July of that year explained his intention to leave the country because there is no reservoir in the assigned area. The official records it thus: "They are pessimistic about the prospects of finding something negative. They are opposed to this mentality auction [the Libyan Government] and reluctant to access the draconian terms required by the NOC. "
In January 2009, the Embassy aims directly at the head of NOC Shukri Ghanem, and mounted several meetings with industry executives criticize him. According to reports from the embassy, \u200b\u200bamong Western executives are "widespread distress" against him for his "lack of technical expertise" and his "reluctance to meet with executives of foreign oil."
"His approach and style have alienated foreign oil and damages the potential cooperation. Other executives tell us that in some ways is a return to the style of the 1970's, when companies saw from a nationalist foreign lens that entities considered predator, "the report said. He concludes: "95% of the economy depends on oil. The fact that the NOC is in the hands of an individual autocrat disliked by his subordinates and international oil professionals does not bode well in the Libyan objective of increasing production of 1.7 barrels per day to 3 million. "
Soon after, the Libyan Government called on oil companies asking them to contribute to a fund "will" that would make allowances for past terrorist actions. "There discomfort. They are told they have better deal if they make "voluntary." After the meeting, the managers are firm on not paying, but there are rumors that Gazprom and small firms have already contributed. "
wave of privatizations
This malaise extends to all the niche businesses that appear to belong to the wave of privatization undertaken by the regime. Embassy cables systematically try to cool the interest of U.S. companies looking to invest in Libya.
resignation When the giant Bechtel to build a commercial port that had bespoken Sirte, the embassy as rises to category: "The failure of Bechtel shows how decisions are made at major foreign investment. After a year of effort and despite the expenditure of one million dollars to numerous high-level visits and formal commitments of the Government alleged, has been impossible. The fact that an operator with the knowledge and economic power of Bechtel not succeed should serve as a lesson for many Western companies that want to enter the Libyan market thriving. "
The Embassy also dampen enthusiasm raised by the ambitious privatization plan launched by Gaddafi. In a November 2009 cable, warns that the Libyan government requires that new private owners maintain their positions: "This often makes it unattractive for a foreign investor to the extent that the productivity of public enterprises is infamous Libyan and have excess staff as a result of the generous Libyan labor laws. "
parade cables for all types of businesses, some sponsored or blessed by governments: managing the company Italy Sipsa win a contract to destroy chemical, the unsuccessful attempt of the British firm York Guns of placing 130,000 automatic rifles diplomats suspect will end up in Chad and Sudan, Operation vetoed by the British Government to end with no problem assuming the Romanian NFI, the mediation of a English diplomat on behalf of Espidesa (Technical Reunidas), seeking U.S. approval to build a nitric acid plant, or suggestions from Tony Blair to Libya to invest in Sierra Leone and Rwanda, countries that former British prime minister says are priorities for charity.
U.S. diplomats also described the tension between the French and Libyan authorities, underlined Gaddafi's fierce opposition to the draft and comments Euromediteránea Union "sarcastic" the Libyan leader on Sarkozy. And, conversely, predict an approach to Spain after the King's visit to Tripoli in 2009: "Understanding that the business is in Libya and Gaddafi's political controls both, Spain will likely benefit from the warm relationship between Gaddafi and the king. "
Aznar in 2003 opened the way
Jose Maria Aznar was one of the key leaders international facilitated the reintegration Muammar Gaddafi regime and the expansion of Western companies in Libya. In September 2003, the then English Prime Minister was the first Western leader to meet with Gaddafi in Tripoli after the lifting of sanctions.
nuclear Covenant with France, Russia and the United States sought
Gaddafi simultaneous agreements with France, U.S. and Russia to initiate a civil nuclear program. All showed bias, but none has gone from good words. The first step was taken during the visit of Nicolas Sarkozy to Tripoli in July 2007, when both countries signed a memorandum for cooperation in "peaceful uses of nuclear energy."
The U.S. Embassy saw the pact as "vague program of cooperation that does not agree to anything." In April 2008, during a visit by Vladimir Putin and "Libya's insistence," underscores a cable-filtered, Tripoli signed another memorandum of nuclear cooperation equally vague. And in May 2008, the Embassy gives notice that a senior U.S. surveyed for the same purpose and no progress was made in this direction.
Source: Â http://www.publico.es/internacional/369371/el-gran-negocio-de-libia
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