Libya Oil Security Force Shuts 2 Fields, Threatens Full Production Halt 

A dispute over control of Libya’s oil security force disrupted crude production Tuesday, with guards imposing shutdowns and threatening broader cuts unless authorities agree to move their agency under the National Oil Corporation (NOC). 

Members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard closed a valve on the Hamada-Zawiya crude-loading pipeline, the NOC said. The move stopped production entirely at the Hamada and Tahara fields and shut down a pumping station. 

The Guard, which is currently under the Defense Ministry, wants to be transferred to the NOC both financially and administratively. It called on the prime ministry and the state oil company to establish a timetable and complete the necessary arrangements. 

In a statement obtained by Reuters, the Guard demanded that it be placed “financially and administratively under the National Oil Corporation.” 

Pressure could increase if the dispute is not resolved. The Guard announced partial production cuts beginning Tuesday and lasting one week at several fields, including Wafa, Al-Khamsa, and El Feel. A full shutdown would follow if authorities fail to meet its demands, it said. 

For its part, the NOC raised the possibility of invoking force majeure, which could occur if the closed pipeline valve is not reopened or if guards force other fields to halt operations. 

Petroleum accounts for approximately 90 percent of Libya’s economy, making interruptions to production particularly consequential for government revenue. The country’s oil sector has endured repeated shutdowns stemming from political and technical disputes since the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. 

Current conditions in international oil markets have added to the NOC’s concerns about the latest stoppages. 

“Shutting down oil fields and halting production operations at this critical juncture—as the world witnesses a rise in crude oil prices—constitutes a devastating blow to the national economy,” the NOC said.