August 14, 2024 — Oil exports from Libya were severely disrupted this week following a fire that broke out in a major pipeline supplying the Es Sider terminal, one of the country’s largest export hubs. The fire, which occurred on August 13, forced a significant reduction in crude oil flows from oilfields in the Sirte Basin.
According to Waha Oil, the operator of the pipeline, production levels dropped by 10,000 barrels per day, reducing output to around 125,000 barrels per day. The company quickly extinguished the fire, but the damage led to immediate reductions in oil exports(Pipeline Technology Journal).
The incident is the latest in a series of disruptions to Libya’s oil sector. Earlier in the month, protests at the Sharara oil field, Libya’s largest, had already impacted the country’s production. Libya, which is exempt from OPEC+ production cuts, has been struggling with fluctuating oil output due to its ongoing political instability and aging infrastructure(Pipeline Technology Journal)(S&P Global).
This latest disruption underscores the fragility of Libya’s energy infrastructure and its continued vulnerability to both political unrest and technical failures. As global markets keep a close watch, the fire at the Es Sider pipeline serves as a reminder of the challenges Libya faces in stabilizing its oil production.
