TRIPOLI:
Libya's major Sharara oilfield will resume operations after an
agreement was reached with the armed group that had shut it down last
month, a senior Libyan oil source said on Monday.
The field, which can pump around 350,000 barrels per day, was shut as an armed group objected to the naming of another group of guards to help supervise security at the facility, sources familiar with the matter said last week.
The sources said the group that was originally part of the force guarding Sharara had forced the shutdown.
"Negotiations were held yesterday and today it was confirmed that the Sharara oilfield will resume operations," the source told Reuters.
"Instructions were given to NOC management and Akakus company to go ahead," he said, adding production could start late on Monday or early on Tuesday.
Sharara, which lies in southwestern Libya, is operated by Akakus - a joint venture between Libya's state energy firm National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Spain's Repsol.
The news comes a day after a separate agreement was reached for operations to resume at two oil export terminals in eastern Libya, which had also been shut down by guards.
The source added that fields belonging to the Zueitina Oil Company were still shut down by workers who were demanding a change in management in a dispute related to work conditions.
Zueitina oil terminal is also closed, affecting other fields which pump to the port such as Abu Attifel, operated by Mellitah - a joint venture between the NOC and Italy's Eni.
The shutdowns were the latest disruptions hampering Libya's return to pre-war output levels of around 1.6 million bpd. The source said current output was at around 1.1 million bpd.
The shutdowns and general lack of order in Libya, awash with weapons from the 2011 war, are tainting its image abroad and hurting its economic lifeline.
"The consequences are negative. From a marketing point of view, you could lose an opportunity and maybe your client can find other sources for crude," the source said.
"And of course, there is the decrease in income."
The source said he was not aware of any buyers of Libyan crude saying they would look elsewhere for now. "The NOC management formed a team working 24 hours. They have been in contact with all the clients and explained the situation."
The field, which can pump around 350,000 barrels per day, was shut as an armed group objected to the naming of another group of guards to help supervise security at the facility, sources familiar with the matter said last week.
The sources said the group that was originally part of the force guarding Sharara had forced the shutdown.
"Negotiations were held yesterday and today it was confirmed that the Sharara oilfield will resume operations," the source told Reuters.
"Instructions were given to NOC management and Akakus company to go ahead," he said, adding production could start late on Monday or early on Tuesday.
Sharara, which lies in southwestern Libya, is operated by Akakus - a joint venture between Libya's state energy firm National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Spain's Repsol.
The news comes a day after a separate agreement was reached for operations to resume at two oil export terminals in eastern Libya, which had also been shut down by guards.
The source added that fields belonging to the Zueitina Oil Company were still shut down by workers who were demanding a change in management in a dispute related to work conditions.
Zueitina oil terminal is also closed, affecting other fields which pump to the port such as Abu Attifel, operated by Mellitah - a joint venture between the NOC and Italy's Eni.
The shutdowns were the latest disruptions hampering Libya's return to pre-war output levels of around 1.6 million bpd. The source said current output was at around 1.1 million bpd.
The shutdowns and general lack of order in Libya, awash with weapons from the 2011 war, are tainting its image abroad and hurting its economic lifeline.
"The consequences are negative. From a marketing point of view, you could lose an opportunity and maybe your client can find other sources for crude," the source said.
"And of course, there is the decrease in income."
The source said he was not aware of any buyers of Libyan crude saying they would look elsewhere for now. "The NOC management formed a team working 24 hours. They have been in contact with all the clients and explained the situation."
أعلن
مصدر مسؤول عن استئناف العمل بالحقول والموانيء النفطية المتوقفة بسبب
الإعتصامات اعتبارا من اليوم الإثنين وذلك بعد التوصل إلى اتفاق بين لجنة
الطاقة بالمؤتمر الوطني العام والمعتصمين. وأوضح المصدر لوكالة الأنباء
الليبية أن لجنة الطاقة توصلت خلال اجتماعها أمس الأحد مع المعتصمين إلى
إتفاق يقضي يتلبية مطالبهم وتسوية أوضاعهم الوظيفية . 
