Zawiya refinery faces disruption after Sharara pipeline closure

Oil production at Sharara fell sharply on Monday after a valve was closed on the pipeline connecting the field to Zawiya port, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said.

The corporation attributed the closure to an armed group, which it did not identify. It warned that continued disruption could halt production at the field and force the Zawiya refinery to stop operating.

The NOC said it might declare force majeure if the pipeline remained closed. It did not disclose how much production had been lost.

According to the corporation, valve No 7 was closed on Monday morning, causing pressure to rise in the pipeline serving the Akakus-operated field.

Technical teams had been unable to reach the area around valves 6 and 7 when the statement was issued. The NOC said its appeals to the Petroleum Facilities Guard in the south-west to carry out its duties had produced no results.

A prolonged closure would reduce public revenue and increase spending on imported fuel if the refinery stopped operating, the corporation warned. It also cited technical and operational risks to the pipeline and associated facilities.

The statement did not set out the group’s demands or reasons for closing the valve.

The NOC called for the pipeline to be reopened immediately and urged the authorities to protect oil facilities and prevent protests from disrupting operations.