Libya’s oil production has been disrupted after an unidentified armed group shut a valve on a pipeline supplying crude from the country’s major Al-Sharara oil field, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) has said.
The disruption has reduced output from Al-Sharara, one of Libya’s most important oil fields, raising concerns about further production losses in the OPEC member state, which holds Africa’s largest proven oil reserves.
In a statement issued late Monday, the NOC said the closure affected the pipeline linking the Al-Sharara field, located about 900 kilometres (560 miles) south of Tripoli, to the coastal city of Zawiya, where one of the country’s major export terminals is located.
The corporation did not identify the group responsible for shutting the valve.
“The closure caused a pressure buildup within the crude oil pipeline, leading to a significant reduction in production at the Sharara field,” the NOC said.
It warned that if the shutdown continues, the company could be “compelled to declare force majeure”, a legal provision that allows parties to suspend contractual obligations because of circumstances beyond their control.
The NOC said prolonged disruption would reduce state revenues, particularly at a time when international oil prices are rising.
It also warned that the Zawiya refinery, located about 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of Tripoli, could be forced to halt operations if the pipeline disruption persists.
Oil facilities in Libya have frequently been targeted by armed groups and protesters seeking to advance political or economic demands, disrupting production and exports.
Despite its vast oil wealth, Libya has faced prolonged political instability and periodic violence since the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The country remains divided between the UN-recognised government based in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
