Eastern forces expand Libyan energy sector grip
Warlord Khalifa Haftar has captured the country's largest oil field, putting a new question mark over the fragile oil recovery
The capture of the southern Sharara field, a 315,000bl/d joint venture between the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Spain's Repsol, gives Haftar control of the bulk of Libya's oil fields, with his Libyan National Army (LNA) already master of the eastern Sirte Basin, home to two-thirds of total production. The LNA, based in east Libya, has many times tried to seize the south, seeing it as a springboard to its long-promised offensive on Tripoli to topple its UN-backed government. Success appears to have come after the largest local tribe, al-Sulaimen, defected to its side. No damage was done to the Sharara facilities in what was a bloodless capture following operations to take nearby airfiel
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
