On 22 October, the NOC announced the closure of the crude pipeline connecting oil fields in the Hamada region to the Zawiyya processing complex in the northwest.
According to the state firm, “individuals” – whose identities were not disclosed – entered subsidiary Agoco’s crude processing station near the Zawiyya refinery and closed the isolation valve on the Hamada-Zawiyya pipeline, “without informing or coordinating with the specialized technical and operational teams.”
“The continued closure of the pipeline will lead to the loss of large volumes of crude output, which will have a negative impact on production levels as well as efforts to maintain stable oil operations, boost production capacity, and [maintain] oil revenues,” the statement read.
The NOC further called for oil facilities to be kept free from any “interference” that could hinder oil operations, urging the reopening of the valve and resumption of crude flows.
On 24 October, Reuters reported that the NOC chief Masoud Suleiman confirmed the reopening of the pipeline, adding that the brief closure led to a decline in oil production from the Hamada and Tahara fields in the Ghadames basin. No details were provided regarding the volume of production lost during the shutdown or when output might return to previous levels.