Libya Targets Two Million Barrels a Day as Field Closures Test Oil-Sector Stability
Libya aims to raise oil production from about 1.5 million to two million barrels per day. Repeated field closures, illicit crude sales and attacks on energy infrastructure continue to undermine output reliability.
Government sets a higher production target
Libya is seeking to increase oil production from about 1.5 million barrels per day to two million barrels per day, according to Al Jazeera. The country is Africa’s second-largest oil producer, but recurrent disruptions have repeatedly forced fields to close and made national output less predictable.
Reaching the target would require an increase of roughly 500,000 barrels per day from the level cited by the publication. The ambition is substantial for a sector operating amid political division, security incidents and disputes over control of state institutions. For producers and service companies, the central issue is not only adding capacity but keeping existing wells, pipelines and terminals operating consistently.
Attacks add to operational risk
Libya’s Presidential Council said on Sunday that it had requested support from the International Criminal Court to investigate attacks involving explosive-laden drones. The strikes targeted oil and electricity facilities in the capital, Tripoli, and in Zawiya in western Libya, Al Jazeera reported.
The Government of National Unity separately announced that it had dismantled a sabotage cell and arrested five people suspected of involvement in drone attacks on oil and electricity infrastructure. The reported arrests show the direct connection between Libya’s broader security environment and the reliability of its energy sector.
Oil facilities depend on stable electricity supplies, secure transport routes and continued access for workers and contractors. Disruption to any part of that network can affect production even when reservoirs and installed capacity remain available. Repeated closures also complicate scheduling for traders, refiners and shipping companies handling Libyan crude.
Political settlement remains tied to oil reliability
Libya’s political factions are also negotiating a route toward presidential and legislative elections. A draft agreement signed in Tripoli under United Nations auspices provides for elections within 24 months under a unified authority. The United Nations gave the House of Representatives and the High Council of State one month to approve the agreement reached by the smaller “4+4” dialogue committee.
The committee signed the draft final agreement on August 30 after seven rounds of talks that began in Rome. The Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and eastern Libya’s commander Khalifa Haftar welcomed the agreement, while the Presidential Council and the High Council expressed reservations, according to Al Jazeera.
For the oil industry, progress toward unified institutions could clarify who controls production policy, revenues and security around strategic facilities. Until that question is settled, the two-million-barrel target remains exposed to shutdowns and unauthorized crude sales. Libya’s large proven reserves provide the resource base for expansion, but dependable output will depend on whether political and security arrangements can protect operations over time.