Oil production resumes at Libya's Mabruk field after a decade
Production officially restarted on Sunday at an initial rate of 5,000 barrels per dayCrude began to be transferred to the nearby Al-Bahi fieldDUBAI: Libya's Mabruk Oil Operations has resumed production at the Mabruk oilfield after a decade-long shutdown, the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) said in a statement on Wednesday.Production officially restarted on Sunday at an initial rate of 5,000 barrels per day, according to the statement, with plans for an increase to 7,000 bpd by the end of March and 25,000 bpd by July.Crude began to be transferred to the nearby Al-Bahi field on Tuesday as part of efforts to improve the efficiency of the country's oil infrastructure and operations.Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) had said it planned to reopen the Mabruk oilfield in the first quarter of 2023 with production up to 25,000 barrels per day.The field had been closed in 2015 after what NOC described as a 'terrorist' attack that cost the company $575 million in field equipment losses.Libya, holding Africa's largest proven oil reserves, has struggled to maintain consistent output levels due to internal conflicts and infrastructure damage since 2011.'This marks a significant step forward in Libya's oil sector, reflecting improved stability and confidence in our capacity to rebuild and boost the national economy,' Wednesday's statement said.
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Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
From Haftar to Dbeibah: The Map of Control and Influence in Libya
Libya, once held together under the iron grip of Muammar Gaddafi, exploded into chaos after his ouster in 2011. Fourteen years later, the country remains fractured, yet a new map of military, political, and territorial control has emerged. It reflects not stability but shifting alliances, entrenched divisions, and the tug-of-war between rival powers vying for supremacy, from Khalifa Haftar in the east to Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in the west. In 2014, General Khalifa Haftar, a former Gaddafi-era officer, launched a campaign to rebuild Libya's disbanded army. As Tripoli and other western cities welcomed Islamist factions and extremist militias, Haftar began consolidating forces under a new banner -the Libyan National Army. Backed by the eastern-based House of Representatives, he was formally appointed commander-in-chief in 2015 by Speaker Aguila Saleh and was promoted to Field Marshal the following year. 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Since 2019, Haftar has shifted his focus further south, targeting key cities such as Sabha, Brak al-Shati, and Ubari, and extending his reach to the far southwest in Ghat. He also controls southeastern border areas like Kufra, Al-Jawf, Al-Uwaynat, and the Tibesti Mountains near Chad. This southern push, some analysts argue, is part of a calculated strategy to project power beyond the traditional east-west divide. While Tripoli remains home to key sovereign institutions such as the Central Bank and National Oil Corporation, Haftar's growing territorial grip has led critics to accuse him of attempting to militarize the state. Military analyst Adel Abdul Kafi notes that most of Libya's southern borders are now under Haftar's effective control. He also points to a US-backed initiative involving joint forces from the east and west to secure Libya's frontiers and coastlines. Control over Libya's energy resources remains a central pillar of Haftar's power. 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Even in the west, where it is based, the Council is overshadowed by the Government of National Unity under Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Dbeibah's legitimacy has come under increasing scrutiny, especially after violent clashes erupted in Tripoli in May, sparked by the killing of militia leader Abdul Ghani Al-Kikli (Ghneiwa). These confrontations exposed the fragility of the security landscape in the capital and significantly weakened Dbeibah's position. Though his term officially ended after being appointed in early 2021, he refuses to step down without elections, leaning on continued international support. Despite controlling public spending and state institutions, Dbeibah's grip on security is largely dependent on a volatile network of militias. Previously aligned with powerful groups like the Stability Support Apparatus and the Special Deterrence Force, Dbeibah has since fallen out with many of these factions. Following Ghneiwa's death, he disbanded the SSA and entered into open conflict with Abdul Rauf Kara's Deterrence Force, escalating tensions across Tripoli. Today, Dbeibah relies primarily on the 444th Combat Brigade, led by Major General Mahmoud Hamza, who also heads Military Intelligence in western Libya. He is supported by the Joint Operations Force in Misrata and other militia groups, including Battalion 55 under Muammar Al-Dawi. These forces benefit from extensive support from Türkiye, which provides Bayraktar TB2 drones, limited radar systems, and military training facilities under prior agreements signed with former Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. Western Libya's military infrastructure includes several important bases. Al-Watiya Airbase, southwest of Tripoli near the Tunisian border, is vital for control over the western region. Mitiga Airbase in Tripoli, currently controlled by the Deterrence Force, serves as a civilian and military airport. Abu Sitta Naval Base in Tripoli functions as the headquarters of the General Staff, with strong Turkish naval ties. Misrata Airbase, among the country's most fortified, hosts Turkish personnel and hardware. Other key sites include Yarmouk Camp in Tripoli -- now reportedly housing Syrian mercenaries --April 7 Camp in Bab Ben Ghashir, and the Khums Naval Base near the city of Khums. Tripoli remains the nerve center of Libya's institutional framework, hosting the Unity Government, the Presidential Council, the High Council of State, the Central Bank, and the National Oil Corporation. Yet, control over western Libya's border regions with Tunisia, Algeria, and Niger remains tenuous. In areas like Ubari, Ghat, and Murzuq -home to Tuareg and Tebu communities - authority shifts frequently among competing forces. The frontline between the rival eastern and western coalitions lies just west of Sirte. 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Saudi Gazette
5 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
US steel and aluminum tariffs doubled to 50%
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Saudi Gazette
5 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Spain cancels contract for anti-tank missiles built by Israeli company
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