Armed Group Cuts Off El Sharara Oil Field Pipeline in Libya

An armed group has closed a pipeline valve at Libya's El Sharara oil field, reducing production and sparking concerns about potential supply disruptions. The state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) reported that the closure hit a pipeline connecting El Sharara to the coastal city of Zawiya, which hosts one of the country's main export terminals.

The NOC warned that continued stoppage could lead to a force majeure declaration, allowing suppliers to suspend contractual obligations. This is not the first time El Sharara has been affected by pipeline blockades - it was shut for two years between November 2014 and December 2016 after armed groups blocked the pipeline.

El Sharara produces approximately 350,000 barrels per day, about a third of Libya's total output. The field is operated by Akakus Oil Operations, a joint venture involving the NOC and several international companies including Spain's Repsol and France's TotalEnergies.