Deepening conflict in Libyan oil heartland threatens output
Islamic militias widen their influence, endangering production
Libyan Islamist militias have extended their control over two key central oil ports they seized on 3 March, as the country's civil war escalates and threatens recent oil-output gains. A counter attack or full-blown war in Libya's oil-producing heartland may be imminent. The militias, led by the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB), captured areas surrounding Es-Sider, Libya's largest export terminal, and nearby Ras Lanuf, a refinery and export complex, in a lightening attack on 3 March, advancing against desultory air strikes across 270km of desert. Their attack has tilted the balance in Libya's civil war, which had been with eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) seiz
Also in this section
23 April 2026
The addition of an oil pipeline to the Power of Siberia 2 gas project could ensure deliveries of Russian oil to China, materially shorten logistics lines between West Siberia and final customers, and—amid disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—offer a land-based export route that reduces exposure to maritime chokepoints
23 April 2026
There is a clear push to bolster exports to Asia amid uncertainty around its North American neighbour, but there are limits to the benefits from the energy crisis
23 April 2026
Shell made the play-opening discovery in Namibia’s Orange basin back in 2022, but its next well could decide whether the project can actually be commercialised
22 April 2026
The failure of OMV Petrom’s keenly watched exploration campaign at Bulgaria’s Han Asparuh block highlights the Black Sea’s uneven track record, despite major successes like Neptun Deep and Sakarya
