Libya Halts Production at Sharara Oil Field on Protests

Libya is shutting down production at the country’s largest oil field, Sharara, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg.

• Shortly before the shutdown was reported, Libya’s National Oil Corp has warned that it may have to close the 300kbpd Sharara oil field because of protestors which may lead to force majeure on exports. Production at the Sharara oil field has been reduced to 235kbpd as of Tuesday morning, from 265kbpd normally and 10 wells were closed but pumping is was continuing to the port of Zawiya, sources told Bloomberg. The field can pump up to 300kbpd at times.
• A group of people had entered the field in 20 vehicles, demanding jobs, services and a new refinery, according to a letter signed by a board member at the state company.
• The Alwasat news outlet reported that protests also started at the 70kbpd El Feel oil field. This has so far not been reported at major news outlets.
• Libyan observed crude and condensate exports rose to 1.09mn bpd in December, up from 1mn bpd in November according to Bloomberg tanker tracking.
• Production at the Sharara and El Feel oil fields was also shut down by protests in July that lasted for four days from 13-17 July.