Libya’s NTC appoints interim cabinet

21 November 2011

Abdulrraim bin Yezza named as Oil Minister

Abdurrahim el-Keib, Libya’s interim prime minister, has announced a new cabinet that will run the country until elections planned for June 2012.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil was named interim president along with two vice-presidents; Mustafa Bushaga and Omar Abdul Karim.

Abdulrraim bin Yezza, a former executive at Italian oil firm, Eni, was appointed oil minister. Bin Yezza has previously worked with state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) as an adviser. Former NOC chairman Shokri Ghanem was ruled out of taking on the role, despite his defection during the uprising.

“Ghanem was a very efficient minister, but this is a new stage and it requires a different face and character … not attached to the oil regime,” says one official close to the National Transitional Council (NTC).

Bin Yezza will take charge of Libya’s oil and gas sector, which is undergoing a major resurrection as it restores production capacity to pre-civil war levels.

“We are looking at a completely new structure for the oil sector; changing executives and the way things work by splitting the Oil Ministry from NOC. Will he have enough time to do this before elections? He can’t change everything on his own,” says the official.

Ali Tarhuni was appointed to head the new oil, gas and finance ministry by the NTC, but these two would be split into an Oil Ministry and Finance Ministry as soon as possible. The former Oil Ministry was dissolved by Muammar Gaddafi, leaving effective control of hydrocarbon policy in the hands of NOC and its board.

Other ministers are:

  • Deputy prime ministers, Mustafa Bu Shagur and Omar Abdallah Abdelkarim.
  • Defence minister: Osama al-Juwali
  • Foreign minister: Ashour bin Hayal
  • Justice minister: Ali Hameda Ashour
  • Health Minister: Fatima al-Hamroush
  • Sport and Youth minister: Fethi Tarbel
  • Social affairs minister: Fawzia Siyala
  • Communications minister: Anwar al-Feitouri
  • Industry minister: Mahmoud al-Fteisi
  • Culture minister: Abdurahman Habil
  • Deputy Culture minister: Atiyah al-Ogly
  • Education minister: Suleiman al-Saheli

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