TRIPOLI: Libya's oil output has climbed to 1.3 million barrels per day from less than 1 million bpd last week as operations normalise following several disruptions due to protests at fields and ports, a senior Libyan industry source said.
"Production was 1.3 million bpd yesterday," the source said on Monday, "Things have started to stabilise."
Libya normally produces around 1.6 million bpd but state oil company National Oil Corporation (NOC) said output had fallen last week below 1 million bpd after protesters shut down two export terminals and oilfields, including the 130,000 bpd El Feel field.
Workers at the Marsa al-Hariga and Zueitina ports later said that the demonstrators had left the premises. While output has recovered since last week, several fields were still off line due to worker protests, mainly over pay.
Production at Libya's Abu Attifel 70,000 barrel per day (bpd) oilfield, a joint venture with Eni, was shut last Wednesday while El Feel, also operated through a joint venture with Eni, has been down since late last month due to similar protests.
The government has been trying quell protests and provide more jobs by promising to move the headquarters of the state oil company to Benghazi in the east.
Last week, it also said it would open exploration and refining operations in the southwest of the country to meet job demands at the El Feel field.
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