Libya says it suspended oil production at largest field after protesters forced its closure

Libya's state-run oil company says production at the country's largest oil field has been suspended after protesters forced the facility's closure over fuel shortages

CAIRO -- Production at Libya’s largest oil field was suspended Sunday, the country’s state-run oil company said, after protesters forced the facility to close over fuel shortages.

The National Oil Corp. declared force majeure at the Sharara oil field in the country’s south starting Sunday. Force majeure is a legal maneuver that releases a company of its contractual obligations because of extraordinary circumstances.

The company said in a statement that the closure of the field forced the suspension of crude oil supplies to the western Zawiya terminal on the Mediterranean coast.

Libya produces more than 1.2 million barrels of oil per day, and Sharara is the country’s largest field, with a capacity of up to 300,000 barrels per day.

The company said negotiations with the protesters were underway to resume production “as soon as possible.”