Libya’s largest oil concession, the Sharara fields in the southwest, suffered a security breach on 4 November, according to state oil firm NOC. But notwithstanding this latest challenge to Sharara’s smooth running, production from the blocks has climbed every quarter this year, according to figures published by operator, Spain’s Repsol.

The 4 November security breach, on block NC-186, is the latest of several incursions against infrastructure related to Sharara operations. The most recent before this was a two-day halt in early October caused by an armed group known as Brigade 30 (MEES, 6 October). “Due to external factors, there has been intermittent downtime since the end of March,” said Repsol in its Q3 results statement on 2 November. (CONTINUED - 893 WORDS)