The eastern government of Libya declared on Monday that all oilfields would be closed, halting production and exports. This announcement comes amidst a lack of communication from the internationally recognized government in Tripoli and no confirmation from the National Oil Corp (NOC), which oversees the nation’s oil resources.
Waha Oil Company, a subsidiary of NOC, indicated plans to gradually reduce output, citing “protests and pressures” as reasons for a potential complete production halt. Waha operates a joint venture with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips, with a production capacity of around 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), primarily exported through the eastern port of Es Sider. The company manages five main fields, including Waha, which produces over 100,000 bpd.
Most of Libya’s oilfields are located in the eastern region, controlled by Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA). The Benghazi government did not specify the duration of the closures, and reports from engineers at Messla and Abu Attifel confirmed that production was still ongoing, with no orders to cease output as of Monday.