Attack at Libya's Es-Sider threatens oil industry
The attack at Es-Sider has plunged the country's oil industry into its ever-deepening civil war
Black smoke stained the sky and flames leapt 300 feet in the air as fighting left Es-Sider, Libya's largest oil port, ablaze. The fire, in December, was the culmination of a civil war fought for control of the country's oil industry. It may end up destroying it. After six months of fighting, Libya has two governments, each a loose coalition of militias and tribal forces, battling each other along a tangle of front lines. But while the politics of this war are complicated, the objective remains the same - to control the country's oil. Libya has Africa's largest oil reserves, an estimated 48 billion barrels of highly prized light, sweet oil. The country derives about 95% of government revenues
Also in this section
20 February 2026
The country is pushing to increase production and expand key projects despite challenges including OPEC+ discipline and the limitations of its export infrastructure
20 February 2026
Europe has transformed into a global LNG demand powerhouse over the last few years, with the fuel continuing to play a key role in safeguarding the continent’s energy security, Carsten Poppinga, chief commercial officer at Uniper, tells Petroleum Economist
20 February 2026
Sempra Infrastructure’s vice president for marketing and commercial development, Carlos de la Vega, outlines progress across the company’s US Gulf Coast and Mexico Pacific Coast LNG portfolio, including construction at Port Arthur LNG, continued strong performance at Cameron LNG and development of ECA LNG
19 February 2026
US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has grown its business rapidly since exporting its first cargo a decade ago. But Chief Commercial Officer Anatol Feygin tells Petroleum Economist that, as in the past, the company’s future expansion plans are anchored by high levels of contracted offtake, supporting predictable returns on investment
