NOC declares force majeure on El Feel oil field in southwest Libya

On Monday September 2, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared force majeure on the El Feel oil field in southwestern Libya, citing circumstances beyond its control as the reason for this measure.
According to the NOC’s statement, the declaration was necessitated by current issues affecting crude oil production in Mellitah, which have hindered its ability to load crude oil. These issues are expected to impact operations at the El Feel oil field and halt production.
The NOC clarified that, in accordance with the Libyan Civil Code’s provisions on force majeure, the conditions causing the disruption were deemed uncontrollable and unavoidable. Consequently, force majeure was declared for the El Feel oil field as of September 2, 2024. However, this declaration does not extend to other hydrocarbon loading operations. The NOC promised to notify companies and stakeholders when normal operations can resume once the underlying issues are resolved.
El Feel oil field had ceased production the previous Tuesday, shortly after Prime Minister Osama Hamad of the parallel government announced a halt in production across all oil fields. This action was a protest against the Presidential Council’s decision to replace the governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Al-Siddiq Al-Kabir, in Tripoli.
Reuters had estimated that oil fields under the control of Haftar’s forces were producing about 1.17 million barrels per day. Last Friday, the NOC reported that a week-long closure of some oil fields had resulted in a 63% loss of total production. The NOC emphasized that these closures were unrelated to its operations and highlighted the significant impact on the national economy and the lives of Libyan citizens. The NOC underscored that the oil sector is crucial to Libya’s unity, economic stability, and future prosperity.