As of 25 May, Libya’s average crude production for the month was about 770,000 b/d, surpassing every monthly average since October 2014 when output averaged 860,000 b/d. It is also a hike of more than a third on April output, when a shutdown at the Repsol-operated Sharara fields caused average output to drop to 565,000 b/d, from 630,000 b/d in March and 680,000 b/d in January and February.

By the end of April the resumption of production from the Sharara fields had pushed output back up to 760,000 b/d, and in the second week of May it reached 814,000 b/d on the continued ramp up from Sharara and the Eni-operated El Feel (Elephant) field, and the restart of the Baida field, operated by Agoco, a subsidiary of state oil firm National Oil Corporation (NOC- MEES, 12 May). Production dropped by about 130,000 b/d to 683,000 b/d on 16 May due to a power outage at the Mesla and Sarir fields (both on block NC-65), also operated by Agoco. But speedy repairs meant that two days later output had recovered to 724,000 b/d, and by 22 May it had reached 788,000 b/d, according to local oil officials. (CONTINUED - 1002 WORDS)