A key crude pipeline from Libya's Sharara oil field to the Zawiya port has been shut down by an armed group, causing a sharp decline in output from the field. Local industry data indicates that daily production has fallen from approximately 335,000 barrels to 105,000 barrels following the incident, a reduction of nearly 69%. Libya's National Oil Corporation has warned that if valve No. 7 remains closed, production, transportation, and exports from the Sharara field could come to a complete halt, potentially forcing the Zawiya refinery to suspend operations as well.
Technicians Unable to Access the Valve Area
Early on the morning of September 21, an unidentified armed group closed valve No. 7 on the Sharara crude pipeline, severing the main route that carries oil from the field to the Zawiya port on the Mediterranean coast. Following the closure, internal pressure within the pipeline continued to rise, forcing multiple production stations at the field to reduce their output. According to local industry data, by 2:15 PM that day, daily output from the Sharara field had dropped from around 335,000 barrels to 105,000 barrels, a decrease of roughly 230,000 barrels per day. The National Oil Corporation has requested that the Petroleum Facilities Guard in the southwestern region fulfill its protection duties, but negotiations have so far yielded no results. Technical teams have been unable to reach the area where valves No. 6 and No. 7 are located, and the pipeline has not been reopened.
The Sharara field is operated by Akakus Oil Operations and has a typical production capacity of about 300,000 barrels per day, making it a core asset in Libya's crude production and export system. Some output is currently being diverted through an alternative pipeline to the Mellitah complex, but that route cannot fully accommodate the original volume.
Zawiya Refinery May Be Forced to Halt Production
The impact of the valve closure extends beyond field production. Sharara crude is normally transported via pipeline to the Zawiya port and local storage facilities, while also supplying feedstock to the Zawiya refinery. With a daily processing capacity of approximately 120,000 barrels, the Zawiya refinery is one of Libya's main suppliers of refined products. The National Oil Corporation has stated that if crude deliveries from Sharara are not restored, the refinery may be forced to shut down due to a lack of feedstock, which would in turn raise domestic fuel import requirements and procurement costs. A prolonged closure could also damage the pipeline system and related infrastructure. The National Oil Corporation has demanded that the armed group immediately reopen the pipeline, warning that if the outage continues, it may be forced to declare force majeure and suspend obligations under relevant crude supply contracts.
Key Pipeline Disrupted Multiple Times This Year
The Sharara-to-Zawiya pipeline system has experienced several technical failures or deliberate disruptions this year. In March, a leak and subsequent fire occurred at valve No. 13 located at kilometer 538 of the pipeline, temporarily halting operations on the main line. Some crude was rerouted through the El Feel field pipeline to the Mellitah port, while the remainder was sent via an 18-inch pipeline in the Hamada region to storage facilities in Zawiya. After comprehensive repairs and successful safety tests, the pipeline resumed operations at the end of March, allowing output from the Sharara field to gradually return to normal levels. This latest deliberate closure of valve No. 7 has once again disrupted this critical route connecting Libya's main southern producing region with northern refining and export facilities.
The Zawiya area has also seen repeated attacks on energy infrastructure in recent months. Fuel storage tanks and blending facilities have previously been targeted by drone strikes, leaving Libya's crude production, refining, and export operations simultaneously exposed to security risks.
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