The richest oil city in Libya has no fuel… and protesters close the largest oil field

On Tuesday, local protesters from the Fezzan region closed the Sharara oil field, located in southwestern Libya, in protest against the interruption of fuel and gas, the weakness of public and basic services, and the increase in smuggling operations, threatening to escalate and close the El Feel field if their demands are not met.

For days, the cities of southern Libya, rich in oil resources, have been suffering from a shortage of fuel supplies, as queues of cars have been seen waiting at fuel stations to fill up with gasoline.

The protesters said in a statement that the closure of the Sharara field came after the expiration of the deadline to respond to their demands represented by poor services and the interruption of fuel and gas, holding the National Oil Corporation and the governments fully responsible if their demands are not met.

The people of the Fezzan region demand the provision of fuel and its derivatives, the activation of the decision to establish a refinery in the south, the maintenance of dilapidated roads in the cities of Fezzan, the appointment of graduates from the region, and the restructuring of the Fezzan Reconstruction Fund.

The protesters also call for canceling the agreement signed between the Ministry of Health and the National Oil Corporation regarding Ubari General Hospital, and obliging the Corporation to establish a private hospital in Fezzan.

As a result of the closure of the Sharara oil field, it is expected that Libya will lose about a third of its oil production daily, and the Libyan economy will also incur daily financial losses, as this field produces 315 thousand barrels per day.

These events come at a time when the conflict between the country’s main parties over power and wealth continues, and the state of political stagnation continues without approaching a solution.