Armed Group Shuts Libya Sharara Oil Field Pipeline Valve

An unnamed armed group shut Valve No. 7 on a crude oil pipeline on September 21, causing a sharp production slump at the Sharara oil field in Libya. The closure created a pressure buildup in the pipeline operated by Akakus Oil Operations, which transports crude to the Zawiya port for export.

Production at the field dropped from an estimated 300,000 to 340,000 barrels per day to approximately 120,000 barrels per day. The National Oil Corporation warned that a continued shutdown could completely halt production and exports, force the closure of the Zawiya refinery, and compel the state to declare force majeure.

The National Oil Corporation reported that technical teams were unable to reach the valves and that appeals to the Petroleum Facilities Guard to secure the pipeline were unsuccessful. This disruption occurs amid internal political division between the Tripoli-based government and the eastern administration, contributing to broader global supply volatility.