The North Africa Journal – Protestors seeking social and economic development for the Fezzan region, located in the southwestern Libya, forced the shutdown of the Sharara oil field, in a protest movement aimed at getting government attention to the plight of the local population. The protest is costing Libya more than $20 million a day in lost revenue, with the country unable to produce some 300,000 barrels of oil per day. The protest, organized by impoverished and neglected Berber tribes, broke out on January 1, 2024, forcing a week later the National Oil Company (NOC) to close the site as talks with protest leaders are underway. Issues of concern to the local population include availability of petroleum products in local markets, infrastructure, poverty alleviation, etc.

Oil prices fell by more than 2% on Monday on sharp price cuts by top exporter Saudi Arabia and a rise in OPEC output, offsetting supply concerns generated by escalating geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Both contracts climbed more than 2% in the first week of 2024 on intensifying geopolitical risk in the Middle East after attacks by Yemeni Houthis on ships in the Red Sea. On Sunday rising supply and competition with rival producers prompted Saudi Arabia to cut the February official selling price (OSP) of its flagship Arab Light crude to Asia to the lowest level in 27 months. A Reuters survey on Friday found that OPEC oil output rose in December as increases in Iraq, Angola and Nigeria offset continuing cuts by Saudi Arabia and other members of the wider OPEC+ alliance. The boost came ahead of further OPEC+ cuts in 2024 and Angola’s exit from OPEC, which are set to lower January output and market share.

Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh met on Sunday with mayors of over a dozen municipalities in Libya’s southern region of Fezzan to primarily discuss the fuel shortage crisis in the region. According to a statement by Dbeibeh’s media office, Mayor of Sabha, Belhaj Ali Belhaj, briefed the premier on the challenges affecting fuel distribution mechanism, including the reconstruction of damaged roads that considered unsafe to transport fuel. During the meeting, Dbeibeh “stressed the need to develop radical solutions to the fuel issue, guarantee the rights of citizens, especially in the southern regions, and create alternatives in the support file for citizens to benefit from,” as per the statement of the premier’s office. He also “instructed the Minister of Local Government to hold technical meetings between municipalities and executive agencies, to follow up on the progress of work on ongoing projects and targeted projects during the current year.”

Sharara Oilfield Faces Disruption as Libya's NOC Declares Force MajeureOn a consequential Sunday, Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) made the critical decision to declare force majeure at the Sharara oilfield, a major production hub with a capacity of up to 300,000 barrels per day. This latest disruption is emblematic of a longstanding trend, with the Sharara field often becoming a focal point for local and broader political protests. Negotiations are currently underway with the aim of swiftly resuming production at the Sharara oilfield. However, the NOC did not provide a specific timeline for the resolution of the issues leading to the force majeure declaration. This recent force majeure declaration at the Sharara oilfield echoes a similar event in July when tribal protesters halted production at not only Sharara but also Elfeel and 108 fields.

The oil market managed to settle higher last week with Brent up 2.23% over the first trading week of 2024. Middle East tensions and Libyan supply disruptions provided a boost to oil prices. The more comfortable market is also reflected in the Saudis latest official selling prices (OSPs) for February loadings. The shutting of the oil field saw total Libyan oil output fall from around 1.2m b/d to 981k b/d on Friday. US output has surprised to the upside in recent months, which has contributed to the broader weakness seen in the oil market.

Libya’s National Comprehensive Health Care Program and Health Number System was launched today at a ceremony in Tripoli by the National Center for Health System Reform (NCHSR) under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. Saad Eddin Abdel Wakil, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Hospital Affairs, and Diwan Samir Koko, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Technical Affairs, attended the ceremony. Director General of NCHSR, Adel Al-Deeb, gave a presentation on the comprehensive health care project, which started with the first implemented model of digital transformation within the Abu Slim Municipality. Health number systemDuring the presentation, Director General Al-Deeb explained the work of the Health Number System, which he said provides a comprehensive approach to health care by providing all means of comfort to the patient while providing the highest quality services by implementing frequency and referrals. Comprehensive health care systemAl-Deeb explained that the comprehensive health care project in health centers includes diagnosing the condition, providing treatment through a specialized family physician, tracking cases of chronic, psychiatric and other illnesses, referring those cases to Focuses on those who need medical care and those who don’t.

Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) announced welcoming the first flight of ‘Fly Oya’ flights, from Tripoli, Libya, to Sharjah Airport during 2024. The airline will operate a single weekly flight from Mitiga Airport in Tripoli every Wednesday. The Libyan carrier has allocated Airbus A330 for its new flights to and from Sharjah Airport. In 2023, Sharjah Airport underwent significant growth, unveiling seven new destinations for passengers. Moreover, three air freight companies commenced weekly flights to Sharjah Airport, enhancing its cargo operations.

Libya on Sunday declared force majeure on the Sharara oilfield, according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). The field, which had daily production of 300,000 barrels, has been closed due to ongoing protests, Libya’s NOC said in a statement. This closure has resulted in the suspension of crude oil supplies from the Sharara field to the Zawiya terminal. Negotiations are currently in progress to expedite the resumption of production, NOC.

Libya's state-owned energy firm said on Sunday it had declared a state of "force majeure" at Al-Sharara oilfield after production at the major facility was suspended due to protests. Declaring "force majeure" allows parties to free themselves from contractual obligations when factors such as fighting or natural disasters make meeting them impossible. "The closure has resulted in the suspension of crude oil supplies from the field to Zawiya terminal," the oil company said. RELATED Oil protests in Libya as Italy signs energy deal MENAThe interruptions in crude production have been caused by social and political protests amid clashes between rival factions. The blockages have resulted in hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenue, according to the Central Bank of Libya.

Libya's National Oil Corporation has declared a force majeure on the Sharara oil field effective Sunday, January 7th, 2024, due to it's closure by protesters. The closure has resulted in the suspension of crude oil supplies from the field to Zawiya terminal. Negotiations are ongoing to resume production as soon as possible. Original announcement linkSource: Libya NOC

In its latest data for the whole of 2023 on revenues and spending released today, the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) revealed a continued increase in public spending – without a matching in earnings. Foreign exchange deficitWith a deficit of US$ 9.9 billion, the CBL confirmed in its latest monthly statement that the state’s revenues from foreign exchange in 2023 reached $25.4 billion, while its uses reached $35.3 billion. LD revenues cover spendingThe CBL announced that state revenues will reach 125.9 billion dinars, and spending will reach 125.7 billion dinars, during 2023. NOC spendingIt revealed that the National Oil Corporation’s (NOC) spending reached 17.5 billion dinars in 2023 from the Exceptional budget granted to it. The report indicated that the salaries item recorded a significant increase from 2022, in which the salaries amounted to 47.1 billion dinars, and from the 33.1 billion dinars for 2021.

TRIPOLI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Central Bank of Libya said Sunday that the country's oil revenues in 2023 were 111.4 billion Libyan dinars (about 23.3 billion U.S. dollars). The central bank said of the total oil revenues, 99.1 billion dinars were oil sales and 12.3 billion dinars were oil royalties revenues. The country's total public revenues in 2023 were 125.9 billion dinars, while expenditures were 125.7 billion dinars, it added. In 2022, the country's revenues were 134.4 billion dinars, while expenditures were 127.9 billion dinars. Despite representing a major source of national revenues, Libya's oil and gas sector has suffered over the past years from armed conflict as well as oil field and port closures.

During lavish celebrations, the city of Benghazi opened its five newly constructed bridges yesterday. Regarding the locations of the bridges, Al-Araibi said that there is:1-A bridge at the intersection of the Fourth Ring Road with Al-Hawari Road (“the Directorate Bridge”). 2-A bridge at the intersection of the Fourth Ring Road with Al Orouba Road (“University Bridge”). 4-A bridge at the intersection of the Fifth Ring Road with the Airport Road (“Al-Masaken Bridge”). 5-A bridge at the intersection of the Fourth Ring Road with the Airport Road (“Al-Laithi Bridge”).

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