2024 Versus 2020 Libyan Oil Sector Disruption Dynamics
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In September 2024, Libyan crude oil exports fell to the lowest since September 2020, when Libya faced a prolonged period of disruptions. This time around, the issue only lasted about six weeks.
Disruptions started in early August when General Haftar called for a blockade at the El Sharara field following his son’s indictment in Spain, the home-country of Repsol which is one of the operators of the complex. After the firing of the head of the central bank by the Tripoli government around 26 August, General Haftar’s government in Benghazi asked his supporters to suspend activities at all oil facilities, including ports and fields.
Back in 2020, when Haftar’s troops occupied fields in the east and blocked production for 8 months, exports declined to a trickle, reaching a low of 77 kb/d in August 2020. It then took a couple of months to return to normal levels, with exports rebounding to 1.012 mb/d by November 2020.
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