Talks have stalled over General Haftar’s demand that Turkish and Syrian forces leave Tripoli
Libya oil port shutdown drags on
A swift resolution to the blockade looks unlikely as fighting continues in Tripoli and the UN searches for a new mediator
Economic losses from the eight-week shutdown of Libya’s oil ports have passed $3bn and, with fighting raging in Tripoli and the resignation of the UN’s top mediator, the impasse looks likely to persist. Five eastern ports and three key south-western oil fields were shut on 17 January on the orders of general Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), which is backed by both the eastern government in Tobruk and local tribal leaders. The shutdown was in response to Ankara deploying Turkish troops and Syrian mercenaries to aid Tripoli’s Government of National Accord (GNA), which is defending the capital from an 11-month offensive by Haftar’s forces. Crude production reported by Libya’s sta
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
