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Libya redirects oil after fire at Sharara field

23 March 2026

Libya’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) has redirected flows from the Sharara oil field after a fire broke out, according to a statement.

NOC said that alternative pipelines have been used and production remains stable.

It also said there were no casualties as a result of the fire.

Some oil was redirected using the El-Feel oil field pipeline to the port of Mellitah, while remaining volumes were diverted ​through the Hamada pipeline to storage tanks in Zawiya.

​NOC said the diverted flows would “significantly reduce losses”.

Libya’s crude production averaged 1.37 million barrels a day in 2025, its highest level in more than a decade.

Oil generates more than 90% of the government's revenues, and the North African country has an estimated 48-50 billion barrels of proven reserves.

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Wil Crisp

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