TRIPOLI - Libya's state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Tuesday welcomed the recommendations of the UN Security Council's Panel of Experts regarding illegal oil exports by the eastern-based authorities.

The UNSC Panel of Experts (PoE) on Libya addressed in its latest report the repeated failed attempts to export oil illegally by the so called "NOC East" parallel institution in Benghazi, and other forms of predatory behaviour by armed groups, resulting in the misappropriation of Libyan state funds and the deterioration of institutions and infrastructure, said the NOC in a statement.

Libya suffers political division between authorities in the east and the west battling for legitimacy, including two parallel oil corporations.

Two weeks ago, UNSC PoE presented a final report accusing the eastern-based Oil Corporation of attempting to "illicitly export crude oil."

"As the sole legitimate steward of Libya's oil and gas resources, NOC has experienced the disruptive behaviour of criminal gangs and illicit institutions. We praise the UN report for its detailed exposure of the scale of criminality and corruption across the country. We welcome its findings and support its key recommendations without reservation," said NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla.

NOC has repeatedly called for additional measures to combat the illicit export and sale of petroleum products, reform of fuel subsidies, and the sanctioning of all individuals attempting to blockade and illegally profit from the sale of Libyan natural resources, Sanalla added.