Libya's National Oil Corporation said on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, that the closure of the crude pipeline linking the Sharara oilfield to the Zawiya port had resulted in the loss of about 130,000 barrels per day and led to a sharp decline in field production.
Closure of valve No. 7
The corporation said an armed group closed valve No. 7 early on Monday, September 21, on the pipeline carrying crude from the Sharara oilfield, operated by Akakus Oil Operations, to Zawiya port. The closure caused pressure inside the pipeline to rise and reduced production.
It added that it had contacted the Oil Facilities Guard in the country's southwest, while technical teams had been unable to reach the area around valves 6 and 7.
Risk of production and export halt
The corporation warned that continued closure of the valve could halt production at the Sharara field as well as the transport and export of crude, putting pressure on public revenues and exposing the transportation system and its facilities to technical and operational risks.
It said disruptions to crude flows could force the Zawiya refinery to suspend operations, increasing the cost of fuel imports. It also indicated that it could declare force majeure if the closure continued.
Field production estimates
Two engineers working at the Sharara oilfield said production had fallen by about 200,000 barrels per day to between 100,000 and 105,000 barrels per day, compared with production capacity of about 300,000 barrels per day.
