Production restarts at Repsol’s Libya oil field

London: Oil has started flowing again from one of Libya’s largest oil fields operated by Spanish multinational Repsol SA, in a rare improvement in the country’s embattled production.

But despite the resumption at the field, the country still faces a daunting task of reviving its exports amid mounting insecurity and the blockade of Eastern Libyan oil ports.

Sharara, which is located in Western Libya and has Spain’s Repsol as a partner, is “producing 60,000 barrels a day,” said Mohammad Al Harari, a spokesman for Libya’s National Oil Company said on Sunday.

Al Harari, who was confirming information from an official at the field, said production will ramp up in the coming days. Sharara normally produces 300,000 barrels a day.

Repsol didn’t return a request for comment.

Last week, local nomadic tribes that had occupied the field agreed to leave the facilities after reaching a settlement with the government over the recognition of their citizenship rights.

Oil terminals in Eastern Libya, where a four-month blockade has dramatically cut Libyan exports, remained closed on Sunday, Al Harari said.

In addition, oil officials at foreign oil joint-ventures expressed concerns over mounting insecurity after the killing of a British employee at an energy contractor last week.