Libya's National Oil Company (NOC) said on Monday it has declared force majeure on exports from the El Sharara oilfield after the facility’s services were blocked by the so-called “Fezzan Rage Movement.”
NOC said in a statement the shutdown of its biggest oilfield would result in a production loss of 315,000 barrels per day (bpd) at the site, and an additional loss of 73,000 bpd at the El Feel oilfield.
Production at the Zawiya refinery was also at risk due to its dependence on crude oil supply from Sharara, the company said.
"NOC demands that the group leave the oilfield immediately without pre-condition," the statement said. It said it was "reviewing" evacuation plans but did not say whether staff had actually left the site.
NOC said in a statement on Sunday that the movement's protesters had stormed onto the premises a day earlier after some guards and locals claiming to be attached to the guard force had opened the gates.
They stayed overnight in the vast, partly unsecured area, making good on a threat first issued in October to stop production if authorities did not provide more development funds for their impoverished region.
The UN-backed Government of National Accord has kept silence on the developments there.
But the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that the head of the GNA, Fayez al-Sarraj, met with the UN's Libya envoy, Ghassan Salame, and Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs in Libya Stephanie Williams.
“They discussed progress in al-Multaqa al-Watani preparations and the recent developments in Libya,” it said.
