Libya

Libya halted loadings from its biggest oil field in the latest disruption to the nation’s crude production and shipments.

Libya’s biggest oil field, Sharara, is “back to normal” after a disruption caused by protests in the politically fragmented country, the state National Oil Corp. (NOC) said.

When the head of Libya’s state energy company visited Sharara oil field in early July, community leaders and workers crowded into a conference room to ask about jobs, training, and services for local people.

Libya’s oil production has plunged by almost a quarter after workers shut the OPEC country’s biggest field to protest lack of medical care following the death of a colleague, a person familiar with the matter said.

An oil guard official appointed by Libya’s UN-backed government said on 7 March that he had been tasked with protecting oil ports by an armed faction that took over Es Sider and Ras Lanuf terminals.

Libya’s crude production exceeded 700,000 B/D and is expected to keep rising as working conditions in the conflict-ridden country improve for international companies such as Eni and Total, an official from the state oil company said.