Libya has initiated a partial shutdown of production at its largest oil field, Sharara, according to three individuals with direct knowledge of the operations.
As of Saturday night, output at the Sharara field decreased by 30,000 barrels per day to 230,000. The reduction followed orders to partially shut down production, said the sources, who requested anonymity as they are not authorized to speak to the media.
The reason for the shutdown and the timeline for a complete halt in production remain unclear. The Sharara field, located in southeast Libya, is operated as a joint venture between the state oil company National Oil Corp. and international partners, including France’s Total SE, Spain’s Repsol SA, Austria’s OMV AG, and Norway’s Equinor ASA.
Libya, which holds Africa’s largest oil reserves, frequently faces disruptions in energy production due to political conflict.
Armed groups or protesters often shut down facilities to advance their demands, impacting the stability of oil output.
