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Libya’s largest oil field sees output reduction after shutdown by protesters

The Sharara field in southwestern Libya, which pumped out nearly 270,000 barrels per day of crude on Saturday, fully halted production Monday and was running at reduced production Tuesday due to ongoing protests.

Refinery Sarir in Libya.
Sarir refinery in Libya. — Stock photo via Getty images

Libya’s largest oil field, Sharara, which pumped out nearly 270,000 barrels per day of crude on Saturday, fully halted production Monday and was running at reduced production Tuesday, according to reports.

The project is a joint venture of Libya's state firm, National Oil Corporation (NOC), with Spain's Repsol, France's TotalEnergies, Austria's OMV and Norway's Equinor.

Libya is split between an internationally recognized government in the capital Tripoli in the west and a rival in the east, and they conflict with each other. It was not clear what caused the decision to halt production, but Libya’s Tripoli-based government on Sunday said that closing the project was “political blackmail,” without providing more detail.

Bloomberg reported Monday, citing two anonymous sources close to the matter, that the Sharara in southwestern Libya had stopped running completely after gradually winding down output over the weekend.

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