Libyans Remain Divided on When to Restart Biggest Oil Field - Bloomberg

Libyans Remain Divided on When to Restart Biggest Oil Field - Bloomberg:

A meeting between Libya’s top oil executive and prime minister in Abu Dhabi ended without a clear agreement on when to restart the country’s biggest oil field.

Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj’s office said in a statement that an agreement was reached that could end the halt. Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of Libya’s National Oil Corp., reiterated his position that “force majeure” can’t be lifted until all militants leave the deposit.

The impasse over Sharara, which can pump about 300,000 barrels of crude a day, is entering its third month. NOC insists that it won’t resume production while armed groups are there. The self-styled Libyan National Army, loyal to eastern leader Khalifa Haftar, controls the field and has said it’s ready to restart. The U.A.E. backs Haftar, who is struggling with the internationally recognized government in Tripoli for control in Libya.