Sources from Sharara oil field told Reuters that production had risen to about 85,000 barrels per day (bpd) in a move aimed at supporting Al-Zawiya oil refinery with supplies.
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared force majeure on Sharara oil field after it was shut down on August 07. The NOC said in a letter to foreign partners and customers that force majeure would not apply to oil production loading and unloading operations.
According to the NOC, it will announce a return to normal operations and production at a later date once the circumstances that led to the use of force majeure have been removed.
The NOC had previously announced the start of a partial reduction in production from the Sharara field due to force majeure conditions resulting from “protests by the Fezzan movement.” The NOC called on the concerned parties to take into account the national interest and support efforts to stabilize and increase production.
Sources confirmed that Saddam, son of Khalifa Haftar, was the one who issued the orders to close the Sharara oil field, which is operated by the Spanish company Repsol, after he was informed of an arrest warrant issued against him upon his return to Libya from the Italian capital, Rome.
The sources explained that the Italian authorities informed Saddam Haftar of an arrest warrant and circular issued against him by the Spanish authorities, due to his involvement in smuggling a shipment of weapons that had been stopped by the Spanish police several months ago.
