A pipeline fire has cut crude oil flows to Libya’s Es Sider export terminal, the latest disruption to the OPEC nation’s oil sector, shipping agents and traders said Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

The fire, which operator Waha Oil said was extinguished, reduced production at oilfields in the Sirte Basin and lowered flows through the pipeline to about 125,000 barrels per day. 

Waha Oil reported an output of 261,000 bpd Tuesday, down from 271,000 bpd the previous day.

The new setback comes a week after protests halted production at the country’s largest oilfield, Sharara.

Libya National Oil Corporation declared force majeure at Sharara last week due to the ongoing disruptions caused by protests. 

The North African nation, exempt from OPEC+ production cuts, has a history of oil output fluctuations amid political instability, which has persisted for many years. 

The internationally recognized government in Tripoli has accused its eastern-based rival of political blackmail over the Sharara protests.

Sharara, a frequent target for warring factions, has faced repeated shutdowns in recent years. These events highlight Libya’s struggles to fully exploit its vast oil reserves, which are rich enough to change the country’s economic standing.