Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan denied Thursday media reports that the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) had been relieved of his responsibilities.

Mr. Nuri Berruien, 67, was appointed as head of NOC in September 2011, at a time when the Libyan people were still tracking dictator Gaddafi’s whereabouts and fighting the remnants of his loyalists and oil production was on the halt.

According to the Libyan news agency, LANA, Zidan said “this issue was never discussed, raised or it is being considered, that Mr. Berruien could be relieved of his duties”.

Berruien held a meeting on last Monday February 25 with Repsol S. A. regional director at his office in Tripoli.

Berruien told reporters then: “I have a national duty… The oil industry before the revolution was operated under the worst bureaucratic and corrupted regime.”