The short-lived 10 October kidnapping of Prime Minister ’Ali Zeidan by militias nominally loyal to the government highlights the power vacuum that has allowed striking workers and security forces to block oil export routes out of the country, slashing production figures.
Libya appeared to have turned a corner last month when production resumed at the Sharara and Elephant (Feel) fields in the west of the country, and force majeure was lifted in the western export terminals of Mellitah and Zawiya. Earlier this week, government officials put production at 700,000 b/d, a significant improvement on an average of just 350,000 b/d for September (see p12). (CONTINUED - 979 WORDS)
