Major oil pipeline reopened in Libya

A Libyan oil pipeline leading from two major oil fields have been reopened after years of closing, according to oil guards.

Oil guards spokesman said on Thursday that the reopening of the pipeline was done in coordination with the oil guards and the national corporation of oil.

Al-Rayayna pipeline leads from Al-Sharara and Al-Feel, two major oil fields in western Libya that produce more than 400 thousand barrels of crude oil daily. The pipeline had been closed since in 2014, which according to the national oil corporation, cost the country 27 billion dollars.

Libya's oil sector, the main source of income, has been suffering since the turmoil in 2011 due to closing of oil hubs by rival militias. Libya's daily oil production was 1.6 million barrels before the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

Oil production has increased to 600 thousand barrels per day when the forces of major general Khalifa Haftar took over the oil ports that were controlled by militias in September.

The national corporation of oil hopes to increase the daily petroleum production to 1.1 million barrels per day by next year. Endit