Es Sider oil export terminal in eastern Libya has seen crude flows disrupted due to a fire along a pipeline from the oilfields in the Sirte basin, Argus reported on Tuesday, citing shipping agents and traders.
The latest disruptions to Libya's oil output and exports come a week after production at the largest oilfield in the country, Sharara, was halted by protests.
A fire at the pipeline to Es Sider has been extinguished, operator Waha Oil said on Tuesday, but sources and operational reports cited by Argus pointed to reduced flows via the pipeline and reduced production at the oilfields.
On Tuesday, Waha Oil produced 261,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, while 271,000 bpd flowed through its pipeline system to the Es Sider oil export terminal, per an operational report Argus has seen.
Flows to Es Sider have now dropped to about 125,000 bpd, a source told Argus. Two other sources noted that Waha Oil had to cut is crude production rate by around 100,000 bpd.
Libya has seen renewed political unrest in recent weeks, which has affected crude oil production in the African OPEC member exempted from the OPEC+ cuts due to its fragile security and political situation.
Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared force majeure at the Sharara oilfield last week, after protests halted production at the country's largest field earlier in the week.
Sharara fully halted oil production in early August after output was curbed during the August 3-4 weekend due to protests.
Libya's internationally recognized government has accused its rival government in the east of "political blackmail" following protests that led to operational curbs at Sharara.
The Sharara field is a regular target for warring political and military factions in Libya, which boasts the biggest oil reserves in Africa but is having difficulty exploiting them fully due to the complicated political situation in the country.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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