Libya’s Sharara oilfield cuts output by 200,000 bpd

Libya’s Sharara oilfield has cut its output by around 200,000 barrels per day, according to National Oil Corporation Chair Massoud Suleman. The reduction in production has not been explained by Suleman. Two engineers working at the field reported that current production is estimated at 100,000 to 105,000 barrels per day. Sharara is one of Libya’s largest oilfields, with a capacity of about 300,000 barrels per day.

The field has faced frequent disruptions in recent years due to protests, political disputes, and technical problems. Libya’s oil production has experienced numerous shutdowns for political and technical reasons since the 2011 uprising that ended Muammar Gaddafi’s rule. Last week, production at several other Libyan fields was halted after members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard closed a valve on a critical crude pipeline. Suleman had previously stated that Sharara was operating normally.