Protests Shut Down Libya’s Sharara Oilfield

A general view shows Libya's Sharara oilfield on December 3, 2014. (Reuters)
A general view shows Libya's Sharara oilfield on December 3, 2014. (Reuters)
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Protests Shut Down Libya’s Sharara Oilfield

A general view shows Libya's Sharara oilfield on December 3, 2014. (Reuters)
A general view shows Libya's Sharara oilfield on December 3, 2014. (Reuters)

Local protests have forced a full shutdown of production at Libya's Sharara oilfield, which can produce up to 300,000 barrels per day, two engineers told Reuters on Wednesday.

A video circulating on the internet showed a number of local protesters from Fezzan region in southern Libya announcing the closure of the Sharara field until their demands are met.

Libya's National Oil Company (NOC) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An engineer had earlier told Reuters a partial reduction in production had taken place and said that protesters were in front of the gate of the oilfield.

One protester told Reuters by phone that the region was "in need of developing projects and services, such as a refinery for fuel supply, paved roads, a clinic and providing jobs for young people".

The Sharara field, one of Libya's largest, has been a frequent target for local and broader political protests.

The field is located in the Murzuq basin in the southeast of Libya. It is run by state oil firm NOC via the Acacus company, with Spain's Repsol, France's Total, Austria's OMV, and Norway's Equinor.

In July, production at the Sharara, Elfeel and 108 fields was stopped by tribal protesters over the abduction of a former finance minister.

Libya's oil output has been disrupted repeatedly in the chaotic decade since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising against Moammar al-Gaddafi.



GCC Secretary-General: 68 Million Tourists Visited Gulf Countries in 5 Years

Albudaiwi spoke at the 9th meeting of the GCC ministers of tourism in Kuwait. Photo: GCC
Albudaiwi spoke at the 9th meeting of the GCC ministers of tourism in Kuwait. Photo: GCC
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GCC Secretary-General: 68 Million Tourists Visited Gulf Countries in 5 Years

Albudaiwi spoke at the 9th meeting of the GCC ministers of tourism in Kuwait. Photo: GCC
Albudaiwi spoke at the 9th meeting of the GCC ministers of tourism in Kuwait. Photo: GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi has said that the number of tourists arriving in the Gulf countries between 2019 and 2023 reached 68.1 million, with tourism revenues amounting to $110.4 billion.

Albudaiwi said the approval of projects under the Gulf Tourism Strategy 2023–2030 aims to enhance the tourism position of the GCC countries regionally and internationally. This initiative aligns with the directives of the leaders of the GCC countries.

Albudaiwi was speaking at the 9th meeting of the GCC ministers of tourism held on Monday in Kuwait.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs in Kuwait Abdul Rahman Badah Al Mutairi, President of the current session.

The Secretary-General expressed pride in the remarkable achievements of Gulf countries, which enhance their standing on the international stage and reaffirm the GCC’s commitment to a prosperous future for the region’s tourism sector.

Albudaiwi noted that international tourist arrivals in the GCC reached 68.1 million by 2023, a growth rate of 42.8% compared to 2019, achieving 52.9% of the GCC’s 2030 targets.