Libya ramps up oil production

Libya

ES SIDER, October 19, 2016 – With a key oilfield in conflict-ridden eastern Libya coming on line on Tuesday, the country’s total oil production reached 580,000 barrels per day, up from 551,000 on Monday, officials told journalists.

The Waha field, which feeds the port city Es Sider, currently produces some 50,000 bopd, according to reports, down from 330,000 prior to the 2011 civil war that damaged many facilities and resulted in widespread political and military chaos in the country.

Es Sider and neighboring Ras Lanuf were seized by a powerful militia in September, after tense negotiations about the possibility of reopening the two ports over the summer.

Libya has set a target of producing 900,000 bopd by the end of the year but could peak at 650,000-700,000 bopd unless major oilfields in the western parts of the country such as El Sharara and El Feel restart too, Reuters reported.