Akakus Oil Operations Co. Confirms Gradual Halt at Libyan Field

Oil Operations Company announced a gradual halt of its crude production operations, which resulted in stopping crude supplies from Sharara field to Al-Zawiya port.

The company said in a statement that the stoppage of its operations came "in compliance with the demands of the people of the south, supported by the so-called Fezzan movement, as a result of the delay in implementing their demands related to moving the company's headquarters to the city of Ubari, and the failure to fulfill some development projects related to infrastructure such as the company's social responsibility and reducing the negative impacts and emissions resulting from operations and production."

The statement pointed out that the Akakus Management Committee was following up on the developments in the field and notifying the National Oil Corporation of all developments, indicating that it held emergency meetings with the relevant departments and offices in order to direct them to take precautionary measures that cost the safety of their cadres and preserve their assets, capabilities and immediately begin the process of gradually stopping production in accordance with the operational plans followed in this regard.

Meanwhile, Fezzan Movement leader Bashir Al-Sheikh confirmed that Saddam Khalifa Haftar was the one who ordered the closure of the Sharara oil field in response to an attempt to arrest him in Italy based on an arrest warrant issued by the Spanish Attorney General.

In a video recording, Al-Sheikh denied any connection by him or the Fezzan Movement to closing the field, stressing that Saddam Haftar issued immediate instructions by phone to close the field.

On Saturday, sources confirmed that Saddam Haftar issued orders to close the Sharara oil field, which is operated by the Spanish company Repsol.

According to the sources, Saddam Haftar did so after being informed of an arrest warrant issued against him while returning to Libya from Italy.