The neglected pipeline infrastructure of Lybia

Libya’s long-standing neglected pipeline infrastructure sprang a leak this week when an aging 32-inch pipeline carrying crude from the Al-Samah oilfield to the Es Sider port burst, and some of the oilfield’s production may need to be shut in. Currently, production at Al-Samah is estimated at around 285,000 bpd, according to Attaqa.Due to insufficient investment in the repair and maintenance of oil infrastructure, Libya has had to contend with pipeline leaks in recent years. This past January a leak forced the shutdown of an oil pipeline carrying crude to the Es Sider oil port, reducing the country’s oil production by as much as 200,000 bpd for a week. Compared to last year’s eight-month-long blockade that crippled Libya’s oil production and exports, output has been relatively stable so far this year, but minor disruptions continued.