Libya’s dangerous oil deal
The UN-brokered ports deal with Jadhran cannot, on its own, increase the country’s oil output. But it may worsen the conflict
MORE bearish news for oil prices seems to be coming from Libya, where a deal to reopen the country's main oil-export terminals is in place. State firm National Oil Company (NOC) talks of increasing output from around 200,000 barrels a day now to 0.9m b/d by the end of the year. It would stall any oil-market recovery. US air strikes on 1 August targeting Islamic State (IS) in Sirte should also help diminish the terror group's threat to energy installations in Libya's central oil crescent. Repeated IS attacks in the past year led NOC to impose force majeure on fields. The US involvement - at the behest of the Government of National Accord (GNA) - in tandem with the ports deal, suggests an outp
Also in this section
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
