TRIPOLI: Libya’s crude production has fallen by 360,000 barrels per day (bpd) after armed brigades blockaded pipelines and closed three oilfields, state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Wednesday.
The shutdowns have so far cost $160 million in lost oil sales, the NOC said in a statement.
It said it would supply its Zawiya refinery by sea to keep the plant producing for domestic consumption after the Sharara, El Feel and Hamada oilfields were closed.
Libya’s oil infrastructure has been hit often by protests and fighting since Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 uprising that ousted long-term leader Muammar Qaddafi. A UN-backed government struggles to impose control over rival armed factions vying for power.
Production had recently edged back up to just over 1 million bpd after the NOC managed to negotiate the reopening of several fields through talks with local communities and tribal leaders. Major ports were also reopened.
“This is a national tragedy — our production was recovering, not enough to balance the budget, but it was enough to give us hope the financial situation could stabilize,” NOC chief Mustafa Sanalla said. “Now we are sliding backward.”
An armed group claiming to be part of the Petroleum Facilities Guard — a semi-official brigade protecting oilfields — shut down a pipeline to Sharara oilfield last week to demand more resources for the brigade’s home region of Zintan in western Libya.
The NOC said that on Aug. 19 the Reyayna patrol unit closed the Reyayan valve on the crude oil pipeline which links Sharara and the Zawiya refinery.
Sharara — Libya’s largest oilfield and which was producing around 280,000 bpd — had been shut a week ago. NOC declared force majeure on loadings of Sharara crude from the Zawiya oil terminal. It said it would now supply by sea instead.
The NOC said the group also closed pipeline No. 18, which produces 8,000 bpd linking the Hamada field and Zawiya, on Aug. 25 and a day later raided the control room of the El Feel oilfield and stopped 70,000 bpd of output there.
A force majeure is still in place on all three fields.
Hit by protests, militant violence and pipeline blockades, Libya’s crude production has at times fallen below 300,000 barrels per day, far from the 1.6 million bpd the North African state produced before the 2011 revolt.
Libya crude output down after armed brigades blockade oilfields
Libya crude output down after armed brigades blockade oilfields
Saudi POS spending jumps 28% in final week of Jan: SAMA
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale spending climbed sharply in the final week of January, rising nearly 28 percent from the previous week as consumer outlays increased across almost all sectors.
POS transactions reached SR16 billion ($4.27 billion) in the week ending Jan. 31, up 27.8 percent week on week, according to the Saudi Central Bank. Transaction volumes rose 16.5 percent to 248.8 million, reflecting stronger retail and service activity.
Spending on jewelry saw the biggest uptick at 55.5 percent to SR613.69 million, followed by laundry services which saw a 44.4 percent increase to SR62.83 million.
Expenditure on personal care rose 29.1 percent, while outlays on books and stationery increased 5.1 percent. Hotel spending climbed 7.4 percent to SR377.1 million.
Further gains were recorded across other categories. Spending in pharmacies and medical supplies rose 33.4 percent to SR259.19 million, while medical services increased 13.7 percent to SR515.44 million.
Food and beverage spending surged 38.6 percent to SR2.6 billion, accounting for the largest share of total POS value. Restaurants and cafes followed with a 20.4 percent increase to SR1.81 billion. Apparel and clothing spending rose 35.4 percent to SR1.33 billion, representing the third-largest share during the week.
The Kingdom’s key urban centers mirrored the national surge. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 22 percent rise to SR5.44 billion from SR4.46 billion the previous week. The number of transactions in the capital reached 78.6 million, up 13.8 percent week on week.
In Jeddah, transaction values increased 23.7 percent to SR2.16 billion, while Dammam reported a 22.2 percent rise to SR783.06 million.
POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.
The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives.
The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital economy.
