The National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared Monday the status of force majeure on the Sharara oil field production, after declaring a force majeure on the field's exports of crude oil, just last week.

The NOC confirmed in a statement that oil production will not be resumed in the field only after establishing alternative security arrangements.

"Production in Sharara field has been forcibly halted by an armed group that claims to protect the field, while threatening the institution's staff to use force," NOC head, Mustafa Sanallah said.

Sanallah emphasized that work in the field cannot continue under such volatile security conditions on the ground.

Economy