Dubai — Libya’s Mabruk Oil Operations has resumed production at the Mabruk oilfield after a decade-long shutdown, the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) said in a statement on Wednesday.
Production officially restarted on Sunday at an initial rate of 5,000 barrels per day, according to the statement, with plans for an increase to 7,000 bpd by the end of March and 25,000 bpd by July.
Crude began to be transferred to the nearby Al-Bahi field on Tuesday as part of efforts to improve the efficiency of the country’s oil infrastructure and operations.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) had said it planned to reopen the Mabruk oilfield in the first quarter of 2023 with production up to 25,000 barrels per day.
The field had been closed in 2015 after what NOC described as a “terrorist” attack that cost the company $575 million in field equipment losses.
Libya, holding Africa’s largest proven oil reserves, has struggled to maintain consistent output levels due to internal conflicts and infrastructure damage since 2011.
“This marks a significant step forward in Libya’s oil sector, reflecting improved stability and confidence in our capacity to rebuild and boost the national economy,” Wednesday’s statement said.
*Tala Ramadan; editing: Kirsten Donovan – Reuters
