One of the largest oilfields in Libya has stopped production due to a pipeline blockage.
The pipe runs from the Sharara oilfield in the Murzuq Desert to the Zawiya refinery.
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The blockage was caused by landowner Hassan Mohamed al-Hadi, who closed a valve on the pipeline to protest against pollution on his land. A nearby field was also closed just over a week ago following a guards’ protest.
Mohamed al-Hadi was quoted by Reuters as saying: “I closed the pipeline that crosses my land. The land is six hectares and it has become a wasteland.
“We closed the pipeline last year for the same reason. A number of mediators had intervened to persuade me to reopen it within 20 days for cleaning the land, but unfortunately, the same thing has returned.”
With tensions high due to civil strife and dropping oil revenues, several local groups have been blockading facilities to push their demands.
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By GlobalDataState-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) operates the field in partnership with Repsol, Total, OMV and Statoil.
al-Hadi added: “The National Oil Corporation does not stand to its responsibility and clean the land as happened before 2011.”
Libya has seen sporadic supply disruptions at its major oilfields including Sharara and El-Feel.
The Sharara field pumped around 308,000 barrels per day (bpd) last week, which is more than 25% of the country’s output.
