ALBAWABA - An unknown militant armed group shut down an oil pipeline at a major Libyan oil field which caused a drop in oil production, according to Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Monday.
The shutdown has threatened production from Libya’s key Al-Sharara oil field; Libya, an OPEC member, contains Africa’s largest proven oil reserves, meaning a disruption in oil flow may have effects beyond the country itself.
Such targeting of oil fields and pipelines is not unfamiliar within Libya, with many groups using these key facilities as stress points to apply pressure for political or economic demands.
⚡️⭕️ Libya: Armed individuals closed the crude oil pipeline from Sharara field; production halted. The state oil company warns it may declare emergency if the closure continues. (IRIB News)
In this instance, the Al-Sharara field affected is located 900 kilometers south of Tripoli, to the coastal city of Zawiya, home to one of the country's main export terminals, according to a statement by the NOC; It did not name the group responsible.
"The closure caused a pressure buildup within the crude oil pipeline, leading to a significant reduction in production at the Sharara field," the statement read;
Adding that the company could be "compelled to declare force majeure" if the shutdown continues for a prolonged period; force majeure is a legal provision that allows suppliers to suspend contractual obligations because of circumstances beyond their control.
The pressure caused by the shutdown, compounded by rising global oil prices, adds significant strain on the already fractured and war-torn country, which has been in a civil war for 15 years since Gaddafi’s overthrow in 2011.
Pshemaf Choiaqo is a digital marketer with a passion for media, style, and presentation.
He enjoys researching unorthodox and nonconventional subjects almost as much as he enjoys writing about them.
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content
