NOC Chairman: Libya’s oil production on slide everyday due to shutdown of exports

BY Libyan Express Jul 10, 2018 - 15:00

Sanallah signed previously a contract with an Italian company based in Milan. [Photo: Libyan News]

Libya’s national oil production fell to 527,000 barrels per day (bpd) from a high of 1.28 million bpd in February following recent oil port closures, the head of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said in a statement on Monday.

The NOC had not previously stated how high the country’s production had climbed after partially recovering to more than 1 million bpd a year ago.

In the video statement dated July 8 the chairman of Tripoli-based NOC, Mustafa Sanallah, said the Feb. 23 closure of the El Feel oilfield due to protests led to the loss of 80,000 bpd, but output had subsequently remained around 1.1 million bpd.

Last month it dropped sharply when an armed attack against forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar at the oil export ports of Ras Lanuf and Es Sider shut both terminals down.

“Our production today is 527,000 bpd. Tomorrow it will be less and the day after tomorrow less again. And we are going lower,” Sanallah said.

The NOC had previously estimated the production loss from the stoppage at 850,000 bpd, or $67 million in daily revenue.

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