Libyan oil production has returned to normal following a brief shutdown of fields, NOC Chief says

Massoud Suleman, Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), said on Wednesday that Libyan oil production has returned to normal following a brief protest on Tuesday by'security personnel who closed down three oilfields.

Suleman stated that he doesn't expect any further shutdowns.

The 'Petroleum Facilities Guard' (PFG), the security force for Libyan oil facilities, has closed the valve on the main Hamada to Zawiya crude loading pipeline. This has completely stopped production at the Hamada and Tahara fields, as well as the NC5 field.

Libya's oil-and-gas sector is the?main?driver for its economy.

Two protesters, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, said that their group had ended its protest at the oil installations and would "discuss" their demands with NOC in Tripoli this coming week.

They demanded that their agency "be transferred financially and administratively to the National Oil Corporation". The PFG's demands were not made clear.

Since the 2011 uprising, Libyan oil production has been closed repeatedly for both political and technical reasons.

The recent turbulence has added to the?strain on a global oil market that is already suffering from?severe disruptions due to the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.

(source: Reuters)